Pirlo opens up on ‘painful’ Milan exit, facing Liverpool twice and ‘champion’ midfield | OneFootball

Andrea Pirlo has recalled some of his memories from his 10 years with AC Milan, including the Champions League finals and his controversial exit.

Pirlo is a player that needs little introduction given his reputation as one of the greatest midfielders of all time thanks to his vision, technique, creativity, passing and of course his trademark free-kicks. He is one of the icons of Italian football, and he cut his teeth at Milan in a decade-long spell.

He became world class in a regista role under Carlo Ancelotti, winning two Scudetti, two UEFA Champions Leagues, two UEFA Super Cups, a FIFA Club World Cup, a Coppa Italia and a Supercoppa Italiana. Then, in 2011, he controversially left for Juventus on a free transfer, which still divides fans now.

Pirlo did an interview with Milan TV having been part of the legends team that faced Spurs in London recently, and he spoke about the memories he made in the red and black shirt, both good and bad. MilanPress relayed his comments.

What does the Milan shirt mean to you?

“This shirt has been part of my life, a piece of history in my journey. It’s always wonderful to wear this shirt again with the Legends, because you find former teammates, friends.

“Free kicks? It was my way of seeing football, maybe different than others. I interpreted it in a role, I tried to make it mine. The free kick was something more.”

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Why was the 2003 Champions League win your most important trophy?

“Because it was the first, my first Champions League and for what it was. We came from a long journey, from the preliminaries.

“Then getting to play the semi-final against Inter and the final against Juve, I think it was the culmination of an extraordinary year. I remember the emotion of arriving at Old Trafford. It was the most exciting match.”

Best moments?

“I remember how good we had it in those ten years. It was a pleasure to meet every day to go to the field. The strength for so many years of being together, with the same players, we had created something special between us. Every sacrifice was not a sacrifice but something to share.”

That midfield with Seedorf, Gattuso and Ambrosini…

“It wasn’t a year or two, we kept it up for many years. We started young and finished when we weren’t too old. It was a long period of time, with champions.”

Is there some regret for not having won as much as you could?

“We could have won a few more championships. We lost another Champions League, we could have won others. If we look at everything, there is the regret of having won perhaps a little too little compared to what we could have won. But in the end we won a lot and that’s not for everyone.”

You faced Liverpool twice in the final…

“The rematch made everything a little sweeter, also because it means that from up there someone gave us the chance to have revenge, also because I think that the 2005 final is one of the most beautiful ones we played and also perhaps as finals ever.

“We had played a great game, it was dramatic. With the rematch a few things went back to our side. As a coach I played my first match in that very stadium, and I lost it.”

Did you become a man at Milan?

“There I became a man. I would have liked to continue to do more, then I took another path, but I think I spent perhaps the best ten years. I grew up with friends that I still hang out with. That is the thing that remains with me the most.”

Does it bother you how your exit is perceived today from the outside?

“Yes, because perhaps it was not understood by many, many think it was my choice but it was not like that. I would have continued at Milan, but there were no conditions to be able to do so.

“When I told my teammates that I would leave Milan it was one of the most painful and sad moments, but that’s how it went.”

Would you like to play with anyone at Milan now?

“Many champions have passed and now there are many good players. I think I played with the best of my time, so now I leave the chance to others to do it at Milan.”