Abate expresses pride after Milan Primavera make history: “Sign of destiny” | OneFootball

AC Milan’s Primavera side made history last night as they reached the final of the UEFA Youth League for the first time in their history, becoming the first Italian side ever to do so.

Milan found themselves 2-1 down in the dying embers of the game in Switzerland yesterday but after some late pressure, they finally earned what their effort had deserved.

Alexander Simmelhack bagged a last-minute equaliser after some magic from Kevin Zeroli – who recently extended his deal with the club until 2028 – and then the midfield scored the winning spot kick to spark jubilant scenes.

Speaking to Milan TV after the game, head coach Ignazio Abate spoke about the incredible result for his side in Nyon, and his comments were relayed by MilanNews.

Apart from the beauty of equalising in this way (right at the end), even if on the bench you will have experienced it with a little more tension, but when it ends well it’s wonderful to score a goal in the last minute and win on penalties for the third time in a row.

I imagine you are so proud of the two years, not just this year, because I remember, looking into your eyes, Milan-Hajduk, different situations, we were more discouraged, but you certainly already had in your eyes the desire to do it again. Nobody would have said it, we did it again and we are in the final…

“Yes, if you think that we are back here, I also told the boys, playing in the finals is something incredible. The path is difficult, difficult, then you know, along the way the matches are always tough, so every detail makes the difference, you see today.

“We had a good first half, as soon as we slowed down the pace a little we missed an exit and they put us away, the quality is high time the game was balanced, we conceded goals from set pieces where for three days we always worked on the corner kick because they are really good at using them, and then I believe that another team would not have come back.

“Only the heart, the desire and enthusiasm of these guys who brought it home. We could have scored a third on the counter-attack, but we didn’t lose our head, until the end. The changes made the difference, they came in great, and this that’s what I told them before the match, the group took us to the final, and now we’ll enjoy it for this evening and from tomorrow we’ll think about the next game.”

The group also means two guys who were with Pioli in the Europa League last night, on the bench or in any case in the first team squad, they made the journey, they arrived. Kevin Zeroli lost his man on the corner kick but practically scored the equaliser. It means a lot to have guys who respond to you in this way even if sometimes the first team has taken them away from you…

“You know, Bartesaghi and Zeroli haven’t really worked with us this week. They haven’t prepared the match, and for them it’s not simple. They arrived at the hotel around 11, they went to bed late, they made the trip, they absolutely wanted to be there, and they were commendable.

“Kevin, despite the mistake, played a stellar game, but so did Bartesaghi. They wanted to be there by force, 99% they will stay with us for the final too, and no it’s easy not to prepare and make the boys understand things only on video.

“But they did their best, I’m very happy and I told them guys that in my opinion the stars were aligned today and we would have gone to the final It’s heart-pounding to go through like this, I remember on on 19 April 1989 Milan won the Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid 5-0.

“Maybe I told them ‘It brings us good luck’, and it is a sign of destiny. It was like this, we enjoy it and then we prepare for the next match which will be a difficult match, just as it will be for them [Olympiakos].”