Sacchi praises Maldini and Massara: “They prove that ideas are worth more than money”

“Maldini and Massara have deserved the renewal of their contract for what they have done in recent seasons. There is still no official announcement, but I really think the matter is settled. At least I hope so for Milan.” Arrigo Sacchi is satisfied with the conclusion of the affair which, however, lasted perhaps a little longer than expected and for this reason made all the AC Milan fans anxious.

After Origi, these are the Rossoneri’s first two heavy signings.
“We are talking about two managers who have shown their value on the pitch. If Milan have achieved a masterpiece, and the Scudetto is a true masterpiece, a good part of the credit goes to this couple. Paolo and Massara have shown everyone that with ideas you go farther than with money. Money is important, God forbid, but it is more important to make the brain work “.

In your opinion, why was there this delay?
“I don’t know the internal dynamics of the company, but I know Americans quite well because I often worked on them when I ran the family business. That’s how they are made, they want to evaluate every detail carefully, they want to weigh their choices, they don’t think with their stomachs. . Look at how they behaved with those players who did not accept the contract renewal, and I think of Kessie: they weren’t there to chase him, they took a different path and they never looked back. It’s their style. “

Now it is a question of making the transfer market and it will not be a simple thing because we need to strengthen the team also thinking about the Champions League.
“Perhaps some time has been lost, this is undeniable. However, the important thing is that Maldini and Massara have the ok to operate and that they feel the trust of the club. When you feel the trust of the employer, you make a lot of money. more. It is obvious that now we need to accelerate and search the market for those player profiles that are functional to the game project “.

Origi has already arrived.
“And I’m curious to see him at work in the Italian league. But Milan’s base, let’s never forget, is the group: when they play ‘as a team’, eleven active players in possession and non-possession, then yes that become very strong “.

There won’t be a lot of money to spend, how can you be even more competitive?
“If there is not a lot of money, it’s better: so they don’t throw it away. You have to concentrate on ideas. In the Milan that won the Scudetto there were some guys who were unknown or semi-unknown. Some of you, before he played the starter. in Serie A, could you tell me something about Kalulu? Yet he proved to be an excellent defender. And here lies the merit of Maldini and Massara who have found so many young players, without a great curriculum and with a great desire to emerge. go and get Kalulu or Saelemaekers … This is the proof that skill, ideas and competence always win “.

Don’t you think these long tug-of-war has cracked relationships a bit?
“I hope not. The club must recognize to Maldini and Massara their roles and their freedom of action in the choice of players and they must respect the budget established by the owners. This is how companies work. With debts you can’t goes far “.