LET'S MAINTAIN OUR BALANCE
3/11/2009 5:35:00 PM
Captain Paolo Maldini talked at Milanello today and made an analysis of the team's moment after the victory against Atalanta and ahead of the two away games before the break.
(ON THE ARCHIVE PHOTO: PAOLO MALDINI)
MILANELLO - Here are the declarations made by captain Paolo Maldini, exclusively to Milan Channel's microphones, before the afternoon training session today at Milanello:
Paolo, yesterday a complete working week started which brings Milan to two away games after Sunday's important victory against Atalanta.
"Yes, it was an important victory both for the morale and the table also because last week was very special because of the travel involved for the friendly in Qatar. We were worried about the match against Atalanta, fortunately we managed to win. Now we are able to train well and face these two away games which will both be delicate for different reasons: Siena are a team who have made it difficult for many teams at home and Napoli become a very dangerous team again after the coaching change.
From now until the end of the season it will be important to maintain our balance toward the top of the table until the end, trying to get good results both at home and away because we have to maintain consistency in our results without differences between home and away games."
Has the elimination from the Uefa Cup been archived?
"Yes, now we only think about the league. We have the chance to train the whole week which is a great advantage. Certainly the Uefa Cup elimination remains heavy and difficult to digest, but the same way we turned the page after winning, we also have to do it after losing, so let's not think about the past and try to look to the future which sees us in a good position in the table."
Against Werder Bremen it was your last match in Europe.
"Yes, last year the last one in the Champions League and this year the last in Europe in general, the important thing is to be serene and I am."
This season there have been quite a few injuries.
"The injuries have hit fundamental players for our play and for their quality. It's been a difficult season, let's hope the trend changes because instead of getting back players we often lose someone: also yesterday Beckham suffered this ankle injury, let's hope it's nothing serious. We hope, in any case, to get back some injured players for Sunday."
How did you see Beckham as a playmaker?
"He did well, he also has to adapt, it's not easy. He has the right spirit, he is someone who always gives his best, he has played in various positions and it's normal he has to find the right distances."
Yesterday Adriano Galliani has said that in Italy there are more injuries because there are too many games.
"You'd have to go into details, I saw that also Arsenal had their most important players out for long stretches, and also Chelsea had injury problems. Some seasons are difficult. The top teams that participated to the Champions League and the Uefa Cup have a high number of injuries. It's a research that should be done over more seasons and perhaps in different countries."
Is there something or someone who could make you change your mind about quitting at the end of the season?
"No, the decision has been made calmly and I certainly won't turn back."