Ambrosini admits he doesn’t ‘understand’ the direction of Milan: “I have no idea” | OneFootball

Massimo Ambrosini, like the rest of us, seemingly has no idea what is happening with the future of AC Milan and the direction the club wants to take.

Hiring a new sporting director is certainly an exciting thing for Milan, however, there is a very large worry growing in the background about the situation. Put frankly, the Rossoneri have spent two months circling, and only one candidate remains an actual option.

If the Diavolo land on Igli Tare, the Albanian is already at a disadvantage, considering the management was restructured for Giorgio Furlani to pick a different candidate. It is not a good look for the club, and unfortunately him, as it shows that there was not a full desire for him.

The longer Milan wait to make a hire, the more rumours swirl about the direction of things, and plans cannot be put into place as soon as they ideally would be. Something which only adds further doubt when thinking of the management.

Today, Ambrosini has spoken to Gazzetta dello Sport about the current picture and how he has ‘no idea’ what the club are doing.

Massimo, how much can technology help today in discovering new talents?

“We live in an era of videos, numbers and algorithms. Technology allows you to filter, but I still think that the human eye always wins over any type of machine. At high levels, a footballer must be seen and known, how he trains, his attitude, his character.

“If I were a manager, I would want to know how a potential purchase experiences football, what kind of family he has around him. In short, to have a 360-degree vision.”

Dribbling, shooting, free kicks: if you were a young dreamer, what kind of videos would you upload to the One of Us app to get noticed?

“I was very good at guessing where the ball was going. Even if this aspect was impossible to capture in the videos. Technically I was a disaster, if he makes me dribble even today I make a bad impression. I would try to highlight a strong quality, that’s for sure.”

You started from Cesena and went on to win two Champions Leagues. Your story teaches that everything is possible: what advice would you give to a young player who is inspired by your career?

“The advice I would give is not to be afraid to face your weaknesses. He who fights, he who does not give up in front of his limits, whether technical, physical or mental, goes forward.

“The goal is to get to the end of your career without regrets. This does not mean that, if you apply these things, then you will get to Serie A. You have to get to the end without regrets.”

At 18 he was bought by Milan: today it seems more difficult for a young player to emerge. In his time was there a different attention towards talents?

“I don’t know if it’s more difficult to emerge. My football was different, there were fewer matches, so there was less need to have larger squads.

“My case was very strange: in the 90s, there weren’t that many young players launched by the big teams. But if you’re strong, you go, you find the way. Clubs have to create the conditions to be able to make a boy make mistakes, without putting too much pressure on him.

“Taking me as an example, the year I spent on loan at Vicenza was crucial to staying at Milan for more than fifteen years. The boys today, unlike in my time, are more insecure, they have to create certainties. And the path is not the same for everyone, but it certainly passes through mistakes and the game.”

Let’s move on to current football. Let’s start with Milan: with the Super Cup and the possible Coppa Italia, would Conceiçao deserve to be confirmed?

“I don’t think he had the perception that his fate was sealed for a while. At this moment the technical direction is providing certainties that weren’t there before. But to have an objective evaluation you would have to experience the environment, understand how he bonded with the players.”

Would Milan do well to move beyond Theo and Leao?

“If strong players are motivated, I wouldn’t give them away. Rafa seems to have shown his value, despite benches and difficulties. At least in terms of presence and will, he has always put his face forward.

“The current season should have taught them both something about character. It all depends on what they have in mind: if they were motivated and determined to stay, why should I go looking outside for something that I already have inside?

“Motivation moves football, especially if you have been in a club for five or six years.”

Photo by AC Milan

Tare, D’Amico, Sartori, Paratici… The choice of the sports director is still on hold: what if in the end they decide to remain without one?

“I have no idea what path Milan will take. I don’t really understand the direction the club wants to go.”