Albertini gives thoughts on Chelsea game, Leao’s renewal and De Ketelaere’s start | OneFootball

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SempreMilan

·3 October 2022

Albertini gives thoughts on Chelsea game, Leao’s renewal and De Ketelaere’s start

Article image:Albertini gives thoughts on Chelsea game, Leao’s renewal and De Ketelaere’s start

Former AC Milan midfielder Demetrio Albertini believes that Rafael Leao’s renewal will be a difficult one, but praised the team for their maturation under Stefano Pioli.

Speaking on the sidelines of the presentation event at the Gran Galà del Calcio 2022, Albertini spoke about a number of topics starting with the big win at the Stadio Carlo Castellani against Empoli on Saturday night, with his comments relayed by SempreMilan.it.


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“A team that is maturing a lot and we hear it from the words of Pioli, to believe until the end even after an equaliser at the last second. It means that there is an awareness in this team,” he said.

Sandro Tonali has become a leader of the midfield department and according to many has future captain material, if not already being worthy of wearing the armband with Theo Hernandez and Davide Calabria out.

“Being an AC Milan fan he is showing all his talent and quality. Sandro is aware that he has the opportunity to win a lot with his favourite team,” Albertini said.

One of the subjects of a lot of speculation in recent weeks has been Rafael Leao whose deal has less than two years to run, and Albertini believes it will be a difficult task renewing him.

“Very difficult to keep him. I think Milan have a very complicated management situation from the outside. However, many times it is the player’s desire and it will depend on him and what he wants to do. Now we know the Milan project: many players are growing, they have deservedly won the Scudetto, they have a solid coach and club, they improve from time to time. It will depend on what he personally wants.”

Wednesday night will see the Rossoneri take on Chelsea in the Champions League at Stamford Bridge in what will be another fantastic test for Stefano Pioli’s man.

On that game, Albertini said: “They [Chelsea] didn’t start the season very well: change of coach and troubled situations. It is always difficult to meet a team equipped like Chelsea. In the results last year it did not go well for Milan but personally I saw a mature team, so many was the debut in the Champions League. This year they know what it means to play internationally: I’m confident.”

On the best director award going to Paolo Maldini: “There is the award for the best club and consequently these are made by the executives. Paolo is the director of what is the Milan group and he has worked and is working very well, not only for the Scudetto. Milan with the difficulties and criticalities makes it clear what their project is.”

The game of the weekend in Serie A will see Milan host their bitter foes Juventus at San Siro in what promises to be another fascinating instalment of the rivalry.

“It doesn’t take much for the big teams to play in a row. I believe that Juventus will find joy in playing after having regained victory, serenity in work during the week. It will be a difficult match for Milan,” Albertini said.

On the many injured players, he added: “Injuries always have an impact, because there is always a change. But Milan have a mentality, a style of play and a job that they can cling to in times of difficulty. Maybe the qualities of some players will change but the interpretation of the match will always be the same.”

On De Ketelaere: “You need patience, as with all young players of great quality. Remember all the criticisms that Tonali had in the first year and I would put them in the dock after a year of great stature that Sandro had. In Italy I always see a defeatism for young people who in the end we fail to grow. Many times just patience is enough.”

Finally, on the new stadium project: “San Siro at the moment is not suitable for the other stadiums. Then it is not for me who says how much it costs to put it in place or if it is right to tear it down and make another one out.

“What I say is that at the moment San Siro is not up to the demands of the fans. There is the historicity, it is as if it were my home, but the possibility of creating a new stadium cannot be excluded. What they have to tell us are costs, sustainability and adequacy.

“I played at the Maracana, I played in the Wembley one, they are remaking Barcelona and Madrid, I played at the Vicente Calderon which they knocked down and made a new one. We must not get caught up in emotion, otherwise we will never change anything.”

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