Milan technical director Paolo Maldini believes the Rossoneri are ready to get back into groove once the season resumes on January 4. The ex-Scudetto winners travel to Salerno to face 12th placed Salernitana at the Stadio Arechi. However, they still have two friendlies to go in Dubai – first against Liverpool, before facing PSV Eindhoven.
The legendary left-back spoke to Milan TV (via Tuttomercatoweb) and shared his thoughts on a variety of topics, including Rossonero at the World Cup and Milan’s long-term project.
“The team is doing quite well, it is a preparation phase and we aim to be ready on January 4th to play many close games. We will practically repeat the first part of the season. The heat helps. It also helps in the recovery of some injured. We have found the ideal conditions for doing double training, which maybe when we are in Milanello we don’t do that often. I believe that the retreat is made up of work, sacrifice and even unity. After a few days of detachment we found ourselves, we began to talk about what our goals must be.”
He went on to speak about several Milan players who have played their part in the World Cup in Qatar.
“Rafa (Leao) has done his part, two goals in the tournament are not a small thing. Unfortunately, he played little. I think it was still a beautiful and high-level experience for him. I only heard from him, but not the others because you never know what the national programs are. You never know what their habits are and therefore I let them enjoy this incredible moment, which is participation in a World Cup, a truly fantastic event for a professional footballer. Then later we will meet again when it is time to meet again,” he said, before speaking of two Rossoneri finalists.
Olivier Giroud and Theo Hernandez will be representing Milan in the final, and Maldini feels proud to see them do their part of the biggest stage of all.
“As for Olivier and Theo, they have been protagonists from the beginning, they have shown it. I must say that there is pride on our part in seeing them reaching the World Cup final.”
Finally, Maldini shed light on the club’s goals going forward.
“The Scudetto victory, which came at Sassuolo at the end of last season ended a three-year period that started in 2019. It was a specific project which did not foresee the victory of the Scudetto. Of course we are talking about Milan and we cannot be satisfied with having won one Scudetto, we must be a little more ambitious.”
Milan sit in second place, eight points off Napoli, who remain unbeaten this campaign after 15 matchweeks.
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