THE LEGEND

FRANCO BARESI

What does it mean to be back at Milan as honorary vice- president?

To me it means a sense of continuity and belonging. It’s also a recognition for what I did as a player, so I feel very honoured to represent Milan in this role too and be able to boost the club’s global reputation.

You played with Paolo Maldini – what’s he like as a technical director?

I’ve known him since he was young and we played together for years. He’s taken on the job with great enthusiasm, and his expertise will help Milan get back to the level that we experienced together.

How have you seen Milan change?

I’ve been at Milan my whole life and have seen it all! We’ve endured some difficult periods and the transition after Silvio Berlusconi’s exit hasn’t helped. Continuity is key to develop as a club and that’s why we’re doing well now. We have a solid ownership in Elliott, who brought a vision and great values shared by everybody.

What can we expect from Milan this season? Can they rival the top clubs?

We need to play with the same will, grit and solidity as last year. We expect to repeat last season’s performances and do well in the Champions League, which gives a lot of visibility and prestige. We’re definitely curious to measure ourselves up against clubs who might be one step ahead of us at this moment. We’ve been steadily growing over the last few years. Competition is fierce in football and now more clubs invest horrendous amounts of money. What you need is knowledge, work ethic and the capacity to make the most of opportunities to keep developing.

San Siro only has a few years left before it gets demolished. How sad will it be when that happens?

San Siro will always exist as a monument to the city, and to the achievements of both Milan and Inter. However, you need to move on and we all know how crucial a modern stadium is. Fans live through their team not only on matchdays but the whole week, so we’re reviewing this aspect, which could allow us to compete with clubs that are ahead economically.