Cuopom: Maldini reveals the secret ingredient for UCL success and believes Milan can go far

Paolo Maldini believes that AC Milan have a chance to reach the Champions League final in Istanbul given their history in the competition.

When the draw was made for the quarter-finals of the competition in Switzerland last month, it could have put Milan against Real Madrid, Manchester City or Bayern Munich, but instead they face a domestic rival over two legs on the same side of the draw as Inter and Benfica.

While Napoli will be favourites for the tie given their status as the runaway leaders of Serie A, Milan will take confidence from their 4-0 win against them in the recent league meeting and how good the performance was in that.

This morning’s La Repubblica reports the words that Maldini said during a video conference with many Ukrainian AC Milan fans who live in Kiev, in an event organised following a whole other series of initiatives that Fondazione Milan have organised. His words were relayed by MilanNews.

On the draw for the Champions League: “Do you know what the problem is? Ancelotti, who is now at Real, also has a pending issue in Istanbul [where the Champions League final will be played]. Immediately after the draw, he called me: ‘Paolo, see you in Istanbul, yes?'”

On Milan’s chances: “It won’t be easy, but I think the club’s history gives us the chance to believe in it. It’s happened before. When you get to March-April, when the Champions League arrives, you can turn a season into something incredible. We have this opportunity and we want to exploit it.”

On the secret ingredient: “It won’t be easy, we know, but we like to dream. Without the dream, we probably would have won fewer Champions Leagues. Even in the current squad, we have many dreamers. And it’s good that they exist and that there are also those realistic.

“I too was a dreamer when I played. I like to dream, my own life has been a dream and it was especially so at Milan. Without dreaming, I too probably would have won fewer Champions Leagues.”

On his relationship with Shevchenko: “Andriy is not only one of the best team-mates I’ve ever had, but a true friend to me and my family. We spent a lot of time together, even a lot of vacations.

“He is family to me. In Kiev, a city I love, I spent important moments with Andriy. I was also there for the 2018 Champions League final between Real Madrid and Liverpool.”