Paolo Maldini

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Maldini sets sights on Athens

Paolo Maldini missed the second leg through injury, but is confident of playing in the Champions League Final against Liverpool.

“I am not used to being on the sidelines, so it was painful for me. I knew the team was in good shape and we have proved once again that back in October when we said we’d reach Athens those were not just words,” said the Milan legend.

“Despite all the injuries and various other problems that we have dealt with, we have been brilliant and I am proud to be captain of a team like this.”

Maldini played in the first leg 3-2 defeat at Old Trafford, but went off at half-time with a recurring knee problem.

“I have a similar injury to the one I had last season, so I have every intention of carrying on next term. If we had been eliminated I would’ve undergone surgery immediately, but instead I will do everything I can to be ready for the Final in Athens.”

The clash is against Liverpool, a repeat of the 2005 Final that Milan lost on penalties despite Maldini getting an early goal.

“It will be my eighth Final and after two years we still want to take centre stage. This side is not afraid of anything.”

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Adriana

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Thank u LuNo

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You're welcome Sandy

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CAFU: 'Maldini is an example'

At the age of 36 and despite having agreed a new one-year contract last week, Cafu's thoughts are inevitably turning to retirement. "I haven't decided yet where I will finish. Maybe I will end my career here in Milan, but there is a possibility of going back to Brazil," explained Cafu, who nevertheless believes the continued presence of Paolo Maldini, two years his senior, may yet provide him with the impetus to prolong his career. "He is an inspiration, not just for me, but for all players who are 30 and think they can't play any more. Paolo works so hard every day, it is such a positive attitude. His dedication is an example to us all."

[NICE DREAM]

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THE CAPTAIN’S LAURELS

Paolo Maldini reached his 600th Serie A game in this March’s derby and Catania marked his 601st, what an amazing champion and captain he has been and continues to be

Paolo Maldini played his 601st game in Serie A with Milan against Catania. The captain already celebrated the big 600 in March on March 11 of this year (this number includes the UEFA play-off on May 23, 1987 against Sampdoria in Turin). It’s a breathtaking number for the record books. If we set aside the play-off from 1987, which was played after the regular season, yesterday was Maldini’s 600th match. The 600th match of a great champion and a great captain. A hero unlike any other, our very own Paolo Maldini.

Out of those 600 Serie A games played by Maldini there have been 315 victories, 179 draws, 106 losses, with 52,555 minutes played and 28 goals scored.

HERE ARE THE DETAILS OF THE MEMORABLE MOMENTS OF MALDINI IN SERIE A:

FIRST GAME

January 20, 1985: Udinese-Milan 1-1

GAME NUMBER 100

February 26, 1989: Milan-Pescara 6-1

GAME NUMBER 200

October 18, 1992: Milan-Lazio 5-3

GAME NUMBER 300

December 23, 1995: Fiorentina-Milan 2-2

GAME NUMBER 400

May 2, 1999: Milan-Sampdoria 3-2

GAME NUMBER 500

March 22, 2003 Milan-Juventus 2-1

GAME NUMBER 600 (601 including the UEFA play-off in 1987, Milan-Samp 1-0)

May 13, 2007: Catania-Milan 1-1

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CONFIDENT CAPTAIN EYES ATHENS

The countdown to Athens has begun and the Rossoneri captain has his eighth Champions League final in his sights

You can see that Paolo Maldini has the same winning air of confidence that he has always had as he talked about how he is feeling and what he is certain of just eight days before the final in Athens. During a telephone interview with Milan Channel, the captain relived all the details of a Rossoneri life amongst the victories, defeats and the good friends who have or will walk away from the game for the last time.

FINAL IN ATHENS: ‘I always believed in it, so did the coach and if we have made it so evidently someone else believed in it as well. We have overcome the critical moments of a difficult season. We reached optimal form in the Malta training retreat. Above all, we recovered all of our excellent players from injury. So here we are at Athens with the opportunity to write a new page in our history, with the possibility of reaching new heights. This is the joy and honour of playing for Milan, to always be able to compete at the highest level and to always have the possibility to win something. My balance of finals played says that I have won four and lost three, and there's no way I want to even things out!’

EVERYTHING TO BE THERE: ‘The question is will Paolo Maldini play against Liverpool? The answer is simple: I will do everything to be there. My knee swelled up after the game against Catania at the weekend, but that was expected. It will be treated with specialised work over the next days. The problem is just something that occurs, but I know that I can get fit in time for the match against Liverpool. The pain and swelling can also be eliminated with injections. I am certain of one thing though and that’s that I will only play if I am one hundred percent. Otherwise, neither myself nor the coach will have any problem in playing someone who is in better shape than me.’

THOUGHTS ON ISTANBUL: 'Istanbul is a defeat that still hurts, but if analysed it can be seen in a different light. Liverpool know very well how it went, they always had the feeling that certain incidents influenced the outcome. I bet that today the English are thinking more or less like this: we won’t win a game like that again, facing a strong side that scores three goals in the first half. We are more or less the same side that played in the final in Manchester and Istanbul, but as a team we are without a shadow of a doubt going to Athens in the best possible shape.’

SHEVA’S POSSIBLE RETURN: ‘Every player that leaves Milan regrets that decision, but at the same time the club never forgets who gave a lot to this jersey. Milan never has bad blood with anyone and I think that this is the secret and the philosophy that has made the difference over these years. From this base, it is easy to say that Sheva would always be welcomed with open arms.’

COSTACURTA’S GOOD-BYE: ‘Every time that one of my team-mates that made this same journey with me leaves, a part of me dies. This is tough, but it is part of the sport. Milan will be here forever but the people playing the roles will change. Like I have always said, this side will never abandon you and I think that a new and exciting experience is about to start for Billy. He has tried to understand how he can be useful to the side this season and I think that starting a coaching career beside one of your former team-mates is positive and fundamental.’

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MALDINI NOMINATED FOR GOLDEN FOOT 2007

MILAN - Paolo Maldini has been nominated for the Golden Foot 2007. The international award is only for players older than 29 years of age and the winner is decided upon by an international jury of 23 media representatives and from fans all over the world. The other players in the running include David Beckahm, Roberto Carlos, Alessandro Del Piero, Luis Figo, Ryan Giggs, Thierri Henry and Raul Gonzales Blanco. The victor will be named on September 3 and he will then leave a permanent mould of his footprints on "The Champions Promenade" on the seafront of the Principality of Monaco.

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Maldini starts Final countdown

Milan captain Paolo Maldini will only feature in the Champions League Final against Liverpool on May 23 if he is 100 per cent fit.

The defender is keen to appear in his 29th professional Final, but he is a doubt for the game because of a persistent knee problem.

“After the game against Catania on Sunday my knee swelled up, but that was expected,” said Maldini to Milan Channel.

“I have to follow a personalised training programme this week, but I know I can be fit for the game against Liverpool,” continued the 38-year-old.

“However, I will only play if I am 100 per cent fit. Otherwise I will have no problems in giving my place to somebody else.”

Maldini has appeared in four Finals crowning Milan as European champions in 1989, 1990, 1994 and 2003 and is looking forward to writing yet another page in the club’s history.

“I always believed we could reach the Final this season and so did the Coach,” explained the Rossonero who is in his 23rd season at the San Siro.

“Now we have the chance to write history. The Istanbul defeat in 2005 still hurts, but I am sure Liverpool know they will never win a match like that again,” he added.

“Compared to our last two Finals in Manchester and Istanbul we are in much better shape this time around.

“This is the joy and honour of playing for Milan, to always be able to compete at the highest level and have the possibility of winning important trophies.

“My personal balance says that I have won four Finals and lost three, there is no way I want to even things out!”

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Maldini set to play on

Paolo Maldini has admitted that he won’t retire at the end of the season – even if he has denied claims that he’s already signed a Milan extension.

The captain, in his 23rd season with the San Siro outfit, was considering quitting because of his knee problems but seems to believe that he has one more campaign left in him.

“I still haven’t put pen to paper, but I have spoken to [Vice-President Adriano] Galliani and I have decided to go on,” the 38-year-old noted.

“At the base of my decision is the fact that I am feeling okay and confident that my left knee problem will be resolved by surgery.

“I will then start working on what will be my last season next time around.”

Maldini, Italy’s most capped player thanks to his 126 appearances, made the statement after Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti suggested that he had already signed a new deal.

“The only player who will quit football after Athens is Alessandro Costacurta,” said Ancelotti this afternoon.

“Paolo will definitely stay with us next year, seeing as he renewed his contract and will play for another season.”

Despite today’s developments, there are some in the peninsula who believe he may still hang up his boots in June if the Rossoneri were to win the Athens Final with Liverpool on May 23.

The former left-back, son of 1963 European Cup winning captain Cesare Maldini, hopes to be fit for next week’s Champions League showdown.

Maldini has stated that he will only play in his eighth European Cup Final with the club if he is at 100 per cent.

Meanwhile, Ancelotti has insisted that the Rossoneri’s winning habit will continue for some years to come.

“Milan’s cycle will not end in Athens,” he said. “It will continue for as long as Silvio Berlusconi remains at the helm of the club.”

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[NICE DREAM]

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