Ivan Gazidis, the managing director of Milan, granted a long interview to Sky Sport in which he spoke across the board about the present and future of the Rossoneri club. The opportunity was also valid to grant the first interview completely in Italian: “This is the first time I speak Italian, but let’s try”.
MILANESE AND DREAMER – “I feel truly Milanese. I am in love with this city. We have lived through a very difficult period and I have seen the strength and feelings of the Italians. And after this period in which I have been here with my wife I feel truly Milanese. he said: “I have a challenge for you”. You have to find San Siro starting from the Navigli. It took me 3 hours “.
CAREER – “My career started in the United States, when I was very young. We had the idea with a friend of mine to create a new league in the States. After the beginning I worked as technical director of the League. It was particular because in MLS he is the league that makes the contracts of the players and not the clubs. After that I arrived at Arsenal with Wenger. He is a great man, not just a great coach. He was a technical director for the club and I had a lot of responsibilities with him. on the commercial development of the club. Today at Milan it is necessary to have a total vision, not only on the pitch but also off the pitch. This vision is very clear in my mind and is shared with everyone who works here.
DREAM – “We haven’t won anything yet, but we’re on the right path and I dream at night like the fans do. I have a dream for the club, for this season, that’s the attitude. I work during the day, I dream in the evening. be part of the comeback of this top club. “
PIOLI – “Stefano is very intelligent. We can say that he is” simple “, but he is also very profound. He understood immediately and always that we are under pressure in this sport. He came at a difficult time for the club. The thing that impressed me is that he only focused on the job. He never complained about the situation, he didn’t focus on the rumors. No, he was simple and through his work he proved to all of us that he has the ability to run such a big club . That’s what made me fall in love with him. “
RANKNICK – “For me the decision was always open. I always told Pioli and he understood it very well. The choice for a club like Milan must be made with sporting merit. It is always like this. Pioli’s attitude was very surprising, not only personal, but also on the pitch. He embraced the young talents he brought to the club. He uses data, videos, analyzes. He understands that in football the 5 seconds transition are the most important and he understands that. ”
THE DERBY – “Today is a year since the derby was lost against Inter, but even then we understood that he could be the right choice for how he had managed that team.”
GREAT TEAM – “If we say that the big leap is thanks to Pioli, I agree. If you say that the credit is due to Maldini and Massara, I agree. If you say that it is thanks to Ibra, this is also true. There are many stories that intertwine “.
MALDINI – “Our relations today are very strong and unity can also be seen in the team. However, it is also important that there is not always an agreement with the other parties. Maldini represents Milan, it is history. But this is not the reason for which I chose him. I see something special in him, he is a man with values, modern, with humility and a desire to learn. I see a man who thinks about the team and is fundamental for this club. I hope Paolo stays at Milan for a long time and I see no limits for him. ”
IBRAHIMOVIC – “Ibra is the exception to all the rules, always. He is special, because he has incredible personal qualities, on the pitch, physically. It is true that Ibra has broken all the rules and this is fantastic. Is he staying at Milan? Anything is possible. challenge for him is the greatest of his career, the most romantic because he has a history with this club and he feels this challenge in a special way. So why not a future with him? “
DONNARUMMA AND CALHANOGLU – “They are very important for this club and we want to have them again with us. If possible with Hakan and Gigio we would like to continue. We are doing everything possible and I am confident that an agreement can be reached, but then it also depends on their decision that we will accept.”
COVID – “Football can’t continue like this. I don’t want to see this club in trouble again. Not only economically, but also on the pitch. It’s not a contradictory phrase, but these things go hand in hand.”
STEP BY STEP – “It is clear that Milan had a difficult period and that with the revenues the cover was too short. The expenses were really high and we are doing everything to get Milan back to the top. This is possible step by step, with the work, but it is not easy.I am not talking about a challenge that has already been completed, we are in work in progress every day.
VISION AND ELLIOTT – “This vision for the club, a top Milan, modern, progressive, global, local for values, in a new stadium, which represents this city in Italy and in the world. Elliott has always said that there is no timeline. We have to complete this vision. Elliott has always supported this club in this difficult moment and he did it in an exemplary and strong way despite the moment. “
RACISM – “We all have a bias in one way or another. This is important to understand. It is not something we are perfect at and the rest of the world needs to improve. It is something that we all need to improve. Racism exists in football. in England, in the United States and also here because football reflects society.
STADIUM – “The stadium in all sports, all over the world, is the basis of modern sport. This is also a duty for us, not to think about today, but also about tomorrow. The fans of the future deserve a club that gives pride and for this reason if Milan has the opportunity to experience history it is still necessary to have a modern stadium with everything that the fans of the future need. Our commitment is to create a stadium for Milan and for Milan that we can be proud “.
SCUDETTO DERBY – “We are at the beginning of the path, and not at the end. If I talked about the Scudetto I could understand it today, but our project is long-term and not for this season for the good of the club. I make mistakes and I will make them in the future. but everything I do is in the interest of the club. “
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