Paolo Maldini farewell not so fond from AC Milan hard core
Gabriele Marcotti, European Football Correspondent [The Times]
Paolo Maldini’s last match at the San Siro yesterday was marred by a portion of Ultras, the hardcore element of AC Milan’s supporters, who accused him of a “lack of respect”.
Maldini will retire at the end of the season, a few months shy of his 41st birthday, after a 22-year career in which he made 901 appearances for the club, while winning seven Serie A titles, five European Cups, one Italian Cup, five Uefa Super Cups and three Club World Cups.
At international level, he was capped 126 times for Italy, helping them to third place at the 1988 European Championship and the 1990 World Cup, as well as runners-up finishes at the 1994 World Cup and Euro 2000.
Yesterday’s match against Roma, which Milan lost 3-2, was supposed to have been a send-off for the man who has captained the club since the retirement of Franco Baresi in 1997. Yet, after the match, with most of the ground applauding Maldini, a banner was unfurled in the Curva Sud, home to most of Milan’s Ultras, which read: “Thank you, Skipper. On the pitch you were an infinite champion, but you failed to show respect towards those who made you rich.”
Shortly thereafter, as Maldini completed his lap of honour to thank the supporters, the Ultras unfurled another banner, honouring Baresi, while chanting: “There’s only one captain.”
Sources among the Ultras revealed that while they were happy to honour Maldini as a player, they felt he had “disrespected” the supporters by toeing the club line on too many issues.
Maldini has occasionally criticised the Ultras when they failed to back some of his teammates and has defended the transfer policy of Silvio Berlusconi, the Milan owner, who was also abused yesterday.
Maldini, who was due to address the crowd, appeared upset. He limited himself to these words: “I’m proud not to be one of them.”
Some players have been accused of currying favour with the hardcore supporters. In the same match, the Ultras displayed a banner devoted to Andriy Shevchenko, who is on loan from Chelsea and is set to return to Stamford Bridge after a season in which he failed to score in 18 appearances, 16 of them as a substitute. That banner simply read, “Sheva must stay”.
Carlo Ancelotti, the Milan coach, who received a mixed verdict from the Ultras – “Thank you and good luck, but we won’t forgot that you also made many mistakes” – attempted to play down their outburst. “They’re irrelevant,” he said. “A few poisonous drops in an ocean of love for Maldini.”
Gabriele Marcotti, European Football Correspondent [The Times]
Paolo Maldini’s last match at the San Siro yesterday was marred by a portion of Ultras, the hardcore element of AC Milan’s supporters, who accused him of a “lack of respect”.
Maldini will retire at the end of the season, a few months shy of his 41st birthday, after a 22-year career in which he made 901 appearances for the club, while winning seven Serie A titles, five European Cups, one Italian Cup, five Uefa Super Cups and three Club World Cups.
At international level, he was capped 126 times for Italy, helping them to third place at the 1988 European Championship and the 1990 World Cup, as well as runners-up finishes at the 1994 World Cup and Euro 2000.
Yesterday’s match against Roma, which Milan lost 3-2, was supposed to have been a send-off for the man who has captained the club since the retirement of Franco Baresi in 1997. Yet, after the match, with most of the ground applauding Maldini, a banner was unfurled in the Curva Sud, home to most of Milan’s Ultras, which read: “Thank you, Skipper. On the pitch you were an infinite champion, but you failed to show respect towards those who made you rich.”
Shortly thereafter, as Maldini completed his lap of honour to thank the supporters, the Ultras unfurled another banner, honouring Baresi, while chanting: “There’s only one captain.”
Sources among the Ultras revealed that while they were happy to honour Maldini as a player, they felt he had “disrespected” the supporters by toeing the club line on too many issues.
Maldini has occasionally criticised the Ultras when they failed to back some of his teammates and has defended the transfer policy of Silvio Berlusconi, the Milan owner, who was also abused yesterday.
Maldini, who was due to address the crowd, appeared upset. He limited himself to these words: “I’m proud not to be one of them.”
Some players have been accused of currying favour with the hardcore supporters. In the same match, the Ultras displayed a banner devoted to Andriy Shevchenko, who is on loan from Chelsea and is set to return to Stamford Bridge after a season in which he failed to score in 18 appearances, 16 of them as a substitute. That banner simply read, “Sheva must stay”.
Carlo Ancelotti, the Milan coach, who received a mixed verdict from the Ultras – “Thank you and good luck, but we won’t forgot that you also made many mistakes” – attempted to play down their outburst. “They’re irrelevant,” he said. “A few poisonous drops in an ocean of love for Maldini.”
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