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Massimo Oddo has shed some light on how preparations for the new Milan Futuro season are progressing, as well as his own coaching journey.
Oddo returned to Milan partway through the debut campaign for the Futuro, who had started badly under Daniele Bonera which forced the club to make a change. In the end they avoided direct relegation, but suffered the drop by losing to SPAL in the play-offs.
Despite not having the end to the season that everyone wanted, the Rossoneri hierarchy showed their faith in Oddo by handing him a contract until 2027, meaning he will lead the team in Serie D too. They kick off their 2025-26 league campaign on September 14 against Pavia.
‘A well-defined project’
Oddo gave an interview to La Gazzetta dello Sport in which he spoke about the time he has had so far with the Futuro and what he hopes the future holds as his journey into management continues.
In what state of mind do you begin this adventure?
“Great enthusiasm, which is part of my character. The key thing for me was to fully understand the plan, the focus, and where you fit in. It’s something that happens at any club, of course, but in this case it’s more essential than elsewhere.
“I’ve had experience at all levels; mine has been a very unique journey, partly because I’ve worked very little since the beginning of my career. In most cases, I’ve taken over, and those experiences aren’t pleasant because there’s no margin for error and the planning that’s so crucial for me is missing.”
Even with Milan Futuro you arrived during a work in progress…
“Yes, but we’re talking about Milan. I never would have thought of turning it down; they needed help right then, so I didn’t hesitate. Unfortunately, time was really short and the situation was very difficult, even though we worked well.
“With a little more time, we could have worked a miracle. This year, I was offered a project, and the work I’d done was appreciated. I accepted, first and foremost, because AC Milan was involved, and secondly, because I had the opportunity to start from scratch.
“Right now, I’m not coaching a ‘category’ team [fourth tier] but a well-defined project. If I’d focused solely on the category, with all due respect, I would have been reductive in coaching in Serie D.”
Please describe this project to us…
“Improving young players, improving the team through their development. Helping them grow, with the goal of giving them the opportunity to approach the first team as closely as possible.
“It’s a project that’s completely different from the usual dynamics, where everything is focused on results. Results are important for us too, of course, but what matters most to us is how we get there. For others, the priority is fielding the best squad you can at any given time.
“Here, the goal isn’t to win by selecting the best individuals at that moment, but rather those individuals who have the best prospects of achieving a certain style of football. In this team, basically, almost all the players can reach at least Serie B, with all the variables that come with that.”
We’re talking about young players. In fact, the average age is very young, certainly younger than last season…
“Much younger, yes. We call ourselves Milan Futuro, but I’d like to emphasize that Milan Futuro isn’t just the Under-23 team, but a project that starts with grassroots activity and continues through to the second team, which is the final step in improving these kids.
“The exchange between the Futuro team, the first team, and the Primavera serves precisely this purpose, assuming that the Primavera will have a roster of under-age players.”
A few months ago, Geoffrey Moncada said that for your project being in Serie C or Serie D made little difference. What differences do you see between the two levels?
“Moncada was misunderstood; he meant it’s important to play a different style of football than youth football. However, in Serie C you also need slightly older players to help the younger players, but in Serie D there isn’t such a great need.
“Ours will be an extremely young team, where 17-year-olds will be playing the football of the seniors. We’re talking about guys who are technically and tactically more advanced than at their level, but in this category they’ll find plenty to suit them.
“Situations and characteristics they’d never find in the youth sector. Physicality, experience, cunning, and cunning. If a boy has potential and perhaps has already gained experience in the Primavera, it’s better for him to play in Serie D.”
When you were relegated in May, did you already have the idea of being able to continue with Milan Futuro, or was it a later scenario?
“The project’s value was so clear that before the play-offs, I’d already received a verbal offer to continue. It was because a certain level of work had been done, a certain level of progress, and a certain level of appreciation.
“For example, we’ve had three players almost permanently in the first team: Bartesaghi, Jimenez, and Camarda, and Liberali and Omoregbe have made their debuts. Others left last month on tour with AC Milan, and some train with Allegri every day.
“The hope is that these guys will get more and more playing time, and I assure you that there are some very promising players in the squad.”
Synergy with the first team therefore remains one of the guidelines…
“Certainly. Another wonderful aspect for me is that it’s really as if I were coaching AC Milan, from the training pitches to the offices to the technological support. It’s a rewarding experience. In Serie D, we have a top-tier professional structure behind us.
“We train at the same times as the first team whenever possible, there’s a lot of collaboration and an exchange of ideas. And in view of this synergy, we also have to pay close attention to the mental aspect of the players. We have to develop them into men.
“When a player is sent to the first team, this aspect is also taken into account: some are more emotional than others, some return to the U23s without any problems, while others go to the seniors and get a bit too excited. Sometimes it’s not the best player technically who makes the leap, but the best one mentally.”
What was the biggest problem you encountered when you arrived last season?
“I don’t want to judge the work of those who preceded me. For me, it was the difficulty of departing from the initial plan: when I arrived, the priority was no longer to develop young players, but to achieve survival.
“I can say that a great deal of work was done; we were projected to be sixth in the standings, and we managed to establish a playing identity.”
Mauro Tassotti is one of your collaborators, how do we define him? At the very least, an added value…
“I’ve known him all my life; he was my assistant coach when I was playing. Infinite experience, a charismatic man, and an added value, especially for the boys, even on a human level. I call him the wise man.”
You will also be needed to keep the group’s motivation high in this league season because Milan Futuro will re-register for Serie C next summer regardless of their placement in Serie D…
“The boys need to understand that achieving team victory isn’t just an end in itself, but rather the result of individual growth within the group. In some ways, training is almost more important for us than the Sunday match itself. We focus a lot on ourselves and very little on our opponents.
“There’s no shortage of motivation, though. Just the idea of being able to go to training with Modric… Each of these boys should have a photo of Milanello’s Pitch 1 in front of their bed and know that getting to train there is their goal. I tell them that all the time.”
Will Milan Futuro’s tactical philosophy reflect that of the first team?
“Generally speaking, we try to maintain a certain continuity in concepts, also through training exercises, so that the players don’t feel disoriented. However, other needs can arise: if I have two strong forwards, I’ll play both of them. The absolute priority remains growth.”
Let’s end with you: in two years, when your contract expires, what will Massimo Oddo do?
“My goal is to coach Serie A, the national team, Brazil. Jokes aside, it will be crucial for me to understand how my role will develop now and whether I can achieve the club’s goal.”
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