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This weekend, AC Milan have a massive test ahead of them, a Roma side that have been transformed in the last 12 months.
The changes in Rome over the past 12 months have been monumental. In the early stages of last season, it seemed possible that the Giallorossi could engage in a relegation battle at some point. Then, it all changed.
Claudio Ranieri returned to the club, and with him, their form saw them drive up the table in a phenomenal fashion. In the summer, Gian Piero Gasperini took the reins, and now they sit second, establishing themselves as one of the best outfits in Italy.
Trophies and tutors
Milan, similarly, underwent massive changes in the summer, and they were needed. A season of underperforming meant the return to Massimiliano Allegri has been monumental. Now, the Rossoneri also have aspirations of the Scudetto.
On paper, both clubs are only aiming for the Champions League, but this weekend’s game could make them rethink the season’s aims. Today, Antonio Mirante spoke to Gazzetta dello Sport about the game.
Mirante, let’s start from here. Sunday sees Milan-Roma, a match you feel is yours. What kind of challenge are you expecting?
“I see the Rossoneri looking very good, solid and compact again. Of course, the absences of Rabiot and Pulisic are weighing heavily. I hope they can give Leao even more responsibility: he’s a champion, he can decide the match on his own.”
Who did Rafa meet?
“A cheerful guy, always smiling and with the shots of a champion. Sometimes, especially from the outside, he can give the impression of being a mere kid. Instead, he’s matured a lot. Now he’s able to stay much more involved in the competition.”
Maignan was in goal for that team, and he’s now also captain. What do you remember about Mike?
I remember an incredible professional, one I’ve seen very few like in my twenty-year career. Maniacal, attentive to everything, almost obsessive. I was an ‘old man,’ yet I learned so much from him, even though he was just a young man. He’s extraordinary, and believe me, he was already a leader of the group even without the armband. Now, as captain, he’ll be even more so.
Is there anyone in that team who surprised you?
“Many, but above all I’d say Pulisic. I expected a strong player, and that’s true, but instead a guy arrived who also had extraordinary footballing intelligence. No one is like him in Serie A. He’s a divine player in both phases. It’s a shame we won’t see him at San Siro on Sunday.”
Let’s get to Roma. Your maestro Gasp is on the bench this year: what kind of team do you see?
“A team that mirrors its coach. Pragmatic, cohesive, and organized. Gasperini is a revolutionary, someone who arrived ten years ahead of everyone else in many respects. When it comes to reading games, for example, he’s the best in the world.”
What memories do you have of your seasons in yellow and red?
“There too, like at Milan, I came to be the second-choice… and I found myself playing a lot. Those in Giallorossi were special years, of transition. We went through a lot, with changes in ownership and management. Just think, two days after my arrival, Alisson was sold. Robin Olsen and I found ourselves competing for his place.”
Then Di Francesco was sent away and Ranieri arrived…
From there, I started playing a lot more. I’d barely gotten any playing time under Di Francesco, but Ranieri, after a couple of games, gave me his trust. I played until the end of the season. It was a strange year, which ended with De Rossi’s retirement. It was a special evening, different and incredible to experience. I remember a sea of people in the stands crying: the older ones, the kids who’d grown up with the legend Daniele, and the younger ones. Everyone, without distinction.
Let’s move on to you. During your years in Bologna, you discovered you had a heart problem. Were you afraid?
“Yes, it was ten days of hell. Everything flashes before your eyes, the story of your life flashes before your eyes. I was returning from a business trip and realized I was feeling unwell: I went for a check-up and they found I had cardiac arrhythmias. Darkness fell. In those moments, you think about surviving; your career takes a back seat.”
Had you thought about quitting?
“Yes, I thought I’d already played in Serie A for so many years and that I needed to think about my family. Then the doctors reassured me, and I began rehabilitation.”
Is it true that he wanted to quit even at twenty? Gasperini’s influence was decisive there…
“Of course, he was the one who launched me. You know, I was twenty years old, I hadn’t played in the youth team, and I’d been on the bench for two seasons. I met Gasp in the Primavera, and from the first training camp he gave me confidence. He put me on the pitch, and from then on I never left. I owe my career to him. He changed me as a person and as a footballer.”
Do you have an anecdote that connects you?
“One comes to mind, dating back to the last matchday of Serie B, against Crotone. Gasperini wanted me with him, and we had a great season together. After the last match, I told him I wanted to stay, but that I dreamed of Serie A. He hugged me and said, ‘You deserve it.’ He’s a good guy, even if he pushes you hard on the pitch and demands the best. Roma fans will learn to love him, too.”
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