THE DUTY TO WIN

Three days from the clash at San Siro against Reggina, the Rossoneri’s captain spoke about the determination from the squad to do well in this final part of the season – PAOLO MALDINI’S WORDS -


MILANELLO – These are the declarations of the Rossoneri’s captain, Paolo Maldini, at the microphones of Milan Channel, today at the Rossoneri's sports centre of Milanello:

Captain, there are still five games left and after the match against Cagliari the San Siro jinx has been broken…
“Apart from the games which we play at home or away, we must only think to move forward and give the best in these last five league games. From our part we can only give our best commitment each time we go on the pitch and with regards reaching the fourth place, we can only hope in a slip by Fiorentina which is now not thinkable, but Milan still has the same duty to try and win all the next five league games."

With the brace that Filippo Inzaghi scored in Turin, he reached twelve goals in official games this season. Do you believe that he deserves a place in Roberto Donadoni's team for the European Championship in June?
“There are many players who are aspiring for a place in Euro 2008: Del Piero, Borriello, Pippo too…These are not easy choices and I would not want to be in the position of the national team coach whose job is difficult due to these choices. In general I believe that Donadoni must aim on those players who have been a group in these last two years during the qualifications, then, also due to the last minute physical conditions, the coach can complete the list of the called-up players.”

In these days there has been a lot of talk about the interest of many teams towards Gattuso. What do you think?
“I read on the newspapers that there are many requests for Rino, but I believe that there always have been. There are no doubts on the intentions of the club to hold him at Milan and not even Rino wants to leave.”

Often it is written and said about a Milan side which needs to be revived lately. Your judgement?
“I don’t believe that there is a Milan which needs to be revived. This team has won a prestigious competition like the World Club Cup just last December, not twenty years ago. Therefore I believe that we have to talk about continuity of this group and not re-birth."

ACMilan.com