LEONARDO: "Paolo Maldini is the face of Milan"

5/21/2009

MILAN - Leonardo spoke about the Captain's nearing goodbye to football: "Paolo is a living legend, a unique story. I certainly see him as a friend, but I always remember what he represents from a symbolic point of view. The cycles he experienced in these 23 years as a total protagonist, with his talent, his way of seeing football and his personality, transmitted a sense of hard work and complete dedication. He is the face of Milan."

A SPECIAL SUNDAY

5/20/2009 5:34:00 PM

Rino Gattuso spoke today at Milanello of the double importance Sunday's match against Roma will have: the direct entrance into the Champions League and the goodbye of a great team mate and friend like Paolo.

(ON THE ARCHIVE PHOTO: RINO GATTUSO DURING TRAINING)

MILAN - Here are the declarations of Rino Gattuso to Milan Channel, today at Milanello, before the afternoon training session:

Rino, on Sunday there's Milan-Roma, a match that's never easy.
"Yes, for us it will be a fundamental match because we already wasted two match balls and we have not closed the race for a Champions League spot, we have a third match ball and we don't want to make more mistakes. We have the chance to play for it at home in front of our fans, it will also be the last match at San Siro of Paolo Maldini and I think that will give us an extra motivation. Already the motivation of entering the Champions League directly will be enough because we saw how much we suffered this year. Sunday we will have to fight and give everything. The match at Udine did not have the same consequences for the table as the one in Naples last year, but it was similar: perhaps in these years we've lacked continuity and when that's missing, you have to get back on track immediately."

It will also be Paolo Maldini's last match at San Siro.
"Yes, it will be the match that signal the end of a great career like Paolo's, a great champion and a great team mate. I think the right definition for a champion like him is 'a gladiator', a footballer who when he wore the captain's armband and went on the pitch gave everything, a great example also when he didn't play.
Personally he has helped me a lot, he made me understand many things. Certainly this Sunday there will be a great emotion for the end of his career, I will always have him inside me and so will my team mates."

What do you think about the voices regarding Kaká and Carlo Ancelotti?
"I am sure Kaká will stay. Regarding the coach, one day it seems I have understood everything and the next day I change my mind. I think it's right that it will be talked about at the end of the season. If the coach leaves, they will still have been wonderful years. Hope is the last to die, however: the team is with him, he has been our coach for many years and a special relationship has been created. It will be up to the club and the coach to come to an agreement and I hope they will. Otherwise we will open a new cycle without forgetting that Milan will have to start winning again."