Maldini: “UEFA needs AC Milan, Winning Europa League…”
AC Milan director Paolo Maldini offered his take on Europa League’s draw and the ambitions of the Rossoneri squad for this season.
Paolo Maldini, present in Monaco with Leonardo to assist from close today’s Europa League draw, spoke with Sky Sport at the end of the event: “It’s nice to be here for the Europa League draw. My role and the competition have changed but it’s a new beginning so I’m very happy. Pleased with the draw? I would say so. We will face Real Betis that are a tough opponent. It’s definitely a group within our reach, we want to move forward as much as possible.
Relationship to be rebuilt with UEFA? I do not think so, I think UEFA needs Milan, because it has written a decisive page in the history of its competitions. If Milan will behave well from a financial point of view, there will not be any problems to accept Milan.
Winning Europa League? The Italian teams in the last 3-4 years have taken this competition more seriously than before. Now Europa League provides direct access to Champions League in case of victory and I think the level of Europa League has risen in recent years.
If I agree with Gattuso on the lack of mentality? The team is young. Having experienced players like Higuain I think are very important in this sense. My presence is that of a new manager, who has little experience in this area, but a lot on the field. We are sharing the roles me and Leonardo. The fact of going to Milanello, talking to Gattuso and sharing his work I think can give the environment something extra.
If it will be easier to enter the Champions League through Europa League or through the championship? I do not think that only Europa League must be taken into account. We can compete, according to our judgment, to reach the top four in the league and make an excellent performance in Europa League. In our opinion it would be absurd to decide in the future which competition to take seriously and which one not“.