[Fillipo Simone]

Maldini Criticises Milan Tifosi

Milan legend Paolo Maldini has launched a surprise attack on the Rossoneri fans for not singing and cheering on their team enough during games.

The Stadio Giuseppe Meazza was conspicuously quiet during Milan’s 2-1 victory over Benfica on Tuesday evening and Maldini admits he was not impressed. 

“The Milan supporters? I was displeased. In fact I got very angry as did many of my team-mates,” said Maldini. 

“After everything we have done for the supporters and all the trophies we have won, we deserve some better treatment.  “This attitude began in the derby last year. With the help of the crowd we would not have lost the game that day.” 

The 39-year-old Maldini is set to retire at the end of the season after a glittering career. The defender made his debut for the Rossoneri almost 23 years ago in 1985 and has since gone on to win every club honour in the game, including seven league championships and five Champions League titles. 

The great is also the most capped Italian international of all time, having played 126 times for his country. The stopper played in four World Cups and three European Championships but never won a major international trophy, despite appearances in the final of USA 94’ and Euro 2000.

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[Jack Sparrow]

This is wierd..are you sure about this?

[KillerMax]

It was an interview with Gazzetta. There is a bit of it on the official website. I would normally take his side, but I think everyone is dissapointed with the lack of exciting new signings. I mean things start to get boring after a while if you don't bring new players to the side. We don't want the Milan management to buy players just for the heck of it, but we clearly needed one or two good signings. I bet you we would not be reading this if a player like Fernando Torres had joined us during the summer.

[arivanjj]

what's not boring is making it getting into the late stages of CL in the past 5-6 years! i agree we need more signings but theres no need for the rubbish from the fans... the least they could do is cheer on for the next 50 years!

[Jack Sparrow]

Well I agree with Paolo, but it's not like him to be this harsh. Or maybe it's the translation.

[jefri91]

stupid spoiled asshole fans

[Fillipo Simone]

“After everything we have done for the supporters and all the trophies we have won, we deserve some better treatment.  “This attitude began in the derby last year. With the help of the crowd we would not have lost the game that day.”[/B]

This in particulary. This does not sound like Paolo at all. The Inter match was one of our worst matches under Carlo. It was the only derby in about 5 years in which we had absolutely no chance of coming back from the moment we conceeded the first goal.. (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

[Nova]

Finally someone said it !!!!

But hey , its more fun bashing kaladze , dida , ancelotti , galliani , berlusconi ... right ?




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This post has been edited by Nova: Sep 20 2007, 02:34 PM

[Tennie]

Okay, here's the original, cut/pasted from the Gazzetta article (link)

Contro il Benfica, per l’ennesima volta, i tifosi del Milan non hanno intonato cori per la squadra. E’ dispiaciuto?

"Di più: sono molto arrabbiato, come i miei compagni. Dopo tutto quello che abbiamo dato, fatto e vinto, meritiamo un trattamento diverso. Quest’atteggiamento è iniziato nel derby di ritorno dell’anno scorso. Con un aiuto da parte della nostra curva, non avremmo perso quella partita".

Perché accade?

"Difficile dirlo. Ci sono motivazioni economiche, giochi di potere. Ma se sono queste le ragioni per andare allo stadio, non so più che cosa pensare. Comunque non è solo la curva a non sostenerci: anche i tifosi degli altri settori se ne stanno zitti. Io credo che quando si canta "Abbiamo il Milan nel cuore", poi bisogna dimostrarlo. Ormai noi giochiamo in trasferta o in campo neutro: mai davvero in casa. Non mi sembra logico, e la squadra non ci sta più".

Ci sono anche le manifestazioni di dissenso nei confronti di Dida e Gilardino.

"Un’altra cosa che non comprendo. I fischi ci sono sempre stati, ma qui si sta andando oltre. A San Siro si sentono applausi ironici per Dida quando blocca una palla facile. Ma quello è il portiere della finale di Manchester, è un campione d’Europa come Gilardino. San Siro è sempre stato magico: adesso stiamo perdendo questa magia".


The translations in the English-language article are pretty accurate. The rest of the article is actually a nice interview. This bit is only a small section.

As for why the curva was quiet...remember, last year during one of the derby matches, they went 'on strike'? That's what Paolo is referring to.

As for economic reasons, the curva didn't get a deal on CL tickets. Economic ties between clubs and ultras is a big problem in Italy; in some places, the ultras run concessions at the stadia, ticket sales, etc etc etc. They're also given cut rates for special events like CL games. This in turn gives the curva 'power' relative to what it wants from the club. One of the best things Claudio Lotito has done for Lazio is to take the concessions and ticket sales /back/ from the Lazio ultras - and it's earned him enemies. Now I don't know what the exact relationship is between Milan and the successor groups to FdL, but it sounds as if the successor groups want more and Milan isn't giving it.

[dst]

^^
I think it's right what our management is doing!

This in particulary. This does not sound like Paolo at all. The Inter match was one of our worst matches under Carlo.

He's talking about the return game, not the first one. The game in which we were the "visitors"...

[Fillipo Simone]

^^
I think it's right what our management is doing!
He's talking about the return game, not the first one. The game in which we were the "visitors"...

O, that match,...

Well,.. (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

[dst]

O, that match,...

Well,.. (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

Well I don't know if we would have won but I guess when you score a goal (especially since it was Ronaldo against his former team) and you hear nothing from your fans, it does affect you!

[Il Capitano]

I don't think it's because of the few signings. I have heard the curva does not like these new rules at the stadium and they are protesting against it.

Edit: some of the new rules are that they can't use the speakers in the stadium(apparently it's harder to coordinate the singing and tifosi without the speakers) and U must have permission to hang up banners. More han halv of the Curva does not have permission.

This post has been edited by Il Capitano: Sep 20 2007, 03:49 PM

[Fillipo Simone]

Well I don't know if we would have won but I guess when you score a goal (especially since it was Ronaldo against his former team) and you hear nothing from your fans, it does affect you!

Yes it does, but still, it's not that it is essential. Especially not for a world-class team like ours that is mentally very high...

[Warchant]

well said Paolo! spoken like a true leader of this team.

the way milan fans treat this great club is pitiful. we won the cl last year, fought back in the top 4 and our team did this by pouring everything they had into this team...and this is how they repay them? sick.

forza el capitano!