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Despite their win on Thursday night, Billy Costacurta has stated that AC Milan are not fighting for the Scudetto this season, despite the gap remaining the same.
The manner in which Milan won on Thursday would probably not be classified as a title-winning side. However, it very much could do, given that those teams win by any means necessary, and the Rossoneri did that.
It was not beautiful, but denying that it showed traits of potential title candidates would be unfair.
Costacurta’s title analysis
Both Inter and Milan won this week, so there has been no improvement in the Nerazzurri’s gap; it remains at three points. In fact, there may be one less rival for the title after Napoli’s draw.
However, Costacurta sees it differently. Speaking in this morning’s edition of Corriere dello Sport (via MilanPress, the legend discussed this season as well as his own time with the club.
“663 appearances, didn’t you say anything? That’s a figure that flatters me. I’m behind icons like Maldini and Baresi; we’re talking about two of the top twenty in the history of world football. It’s equally true that I precede others, legends. Rivera above all.
“Six hundred and more games despite my limitations. I wasn’t strong mentally, and I had a pe’ nde ghisa, an iron foot, as they say in my area. But I was quick and knew how to read situations; I anticipated the others’ moves.
“I arrived at Milan at the best moment. I was lucky. Paolo and Franco had grown up there, wearing the shirt at 16, 17 years old.”
“I lasted a long time although every year someone strong arrived. Nesta, Cafu, Stam. Even at 35, I managed to carve out some space for myself. Filippo Galli? He was strong, but injuries took their toll. We had been through the youth sector; he’s a bit older than me.
“When Sacchi arrived, the first thing he said to me was this: ‘Billy, don’t look at Franco and Paolo, look at Filippo. Observe how he manages to keep up with them even though they don’t possess the same extraordinary qualities.’
“From that moment on, Pippo became my idol, my main role model. In terms of dedication, concentration, and attention, he was a role model.”
“Filippo, after Sacchi, was fundamental. They protected me and, ultimately, corrected my mistakes, just as Maldini and Baresi did on the pitch. Arrigo made me understand where and how I could improve if I followed his advice.
“At first, his advice seemed too rigid, almost restrictive. “Place your foot this way, adjust your position on the attacker, to the side, not behind him. No one had previously taught me how to position myself on the pitch, not even the magnificent Liedholm. Capello did the rest, working on my mentality and consistency .”
The coaches…
“Who is the best ever? Carlo. Carlo [Ancelotti] and then Pep are the greatest. Right behind Cruijff, who changed football. And Arrigo. Sacchi caused a real earthquake; he was the inspiration for the Renaissance of football, and not just the Italian one.
“Arrigo is the key figure, Leonardo Da Vinci. Allegri outside the top ten? He’s not in the top five. Max knows football and the players perfectly, the tempo of the game, and he knows how to get out of any situation; his teams are capable of suffering when suffering prevails.
“There are no teams that haven’t faced difficult moments, even my best Milan had plenty. Allegri is someone who gives you a lot to follow. Milan for the Scudetto? In my opinion, no. He has a short blanket.
“If he can stay compact, he can get results. Due to the characteristics of his players, especially in defence, he is forced to defend deep.”
View on Leao…
“I’m not a fan of Leao, I haven’t been since the very beginning, since he was nineteen and some considered him a predestined player, a future Ballon d’Or winner. I’ve played alongside many Ballon d’Or winners, all people who put their talent at the service of the team.
“Leao… wait, I’m trying to find the right adjective… well, enigmatic. Leao is enigmatic. I’ve never understood if the things he does are ends in themselves. He’s a showman.
“In football, beauty must also be effective, therefore interesting. And then Leao is no longer a kid, in June he’ll be twenty-seven, not twenty.”
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