23 days ago
Alessandro Florenzi believes Paolo Maldini could have transformed Italian football had he been given the room to work, and says the federation should have committed to him fully.
With quotes via MilanNews.it, the former Milan and Roma defender discussed his old club captain's brief spell as Italy's technical director in an interview with Repubblica, describing the decision to walk away as characteristic.
"Paolo needs to do things his own way," Florenzi said. "If he takes on a responsibility, he does it 100 per cent. He felt the trust ebbing away, and out of consistency he took a step back. He talked about Cruyff, about how he changed Spanish football. He wanted to do the same in Italy and, for me, he could have managed it."
EMPOLI, ITALY – OCTOBER 01: Paolo Maldini of AC Milan looks on during the Serie A match between Empoli FC and AC MIlan at Stadio Carlo Castellani on October 1, 2022 in Empoli, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
Asked whether Maldini and Leonardo had wanted Andrea Pirlo as national team coach, Florenzi did not confirm it directly but defended the thinking. "De Rossi and Grosso were the other names in play, with similar CVs to Andrea," he said. "Any choice would have been criticised. But perhaps they had seen further ahead. If you choose Maldini, you close your eyes and go straight ahead with him."
#florenzi #paolo #empoli #Football
With quotes via MilanNews.it, the former Milan and Roma defender discussed his old club captain's brief spell as Italy's technical director in an interview with Repubblica, describing the decision to walk away as characteristic.
"Paolo needs to do things his own way," Florenzi said. "If he takes on a responsibility, he does it 100 per cent. He felt the trust ebbing away, and out of consistency he took a step back. He talked about Cruyff, about how he changed Spanish football. He wanted to do the same in Italy and, for me, he could have managed it."
EMPOLI, ITALY – OCTOBER 01: Paolo Maldini of AC Milan looks on during the Serie A match between Empoli FC and AC MIlan at Stadio Carlo Castellani on October 1, 2022 in Empoli, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
Asked whether Maldini and Leonardo had wanted Andrea Pirlo as national team coach, Florenzi did not confirm it directly but defended the thinking. "De Rossi and Grosso were the other names in play, with similar CVs to Andrea," he said. "Any choice would have been criticised. But perhaps they had seen further ahead. If you choose Maldini, you close your eyes and go straight ahead with him."
#florenzi #paolo #empoli #Football
