Van Basten shares thoughts on Milan’s fall, Fonseca, Camarda, Leao and Reijnders | OneFootball

Marco van Basten has admitted that it is painful to see AC Milan struggle as they are at the moment, but believes that they will bounce back to winning.

On Sunday evening Van Basten entered Milan’s Hall of Fame and he was honoured prior to the game against Genoa, with the fans giving him a warm reception as is to be expected for someone who helped write the glorious history of the club.

Although flattered by the recognition he got from the fans and the love towards him at San Siro, he cannot smile at the moment that the team is going through. The Dutchman still follows the Rossoneri with affection, and cannot be happy with how far they have fallen since his days.

This morning’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport has an interview with Van Basten, speaking about the current moment the team are going through and the bond that he still feels with the club at which he became the best in the world.

How strong is your bond with Milan?

“If you have played here in Milan, with the Milan shirt, it is difficult not to feel the feeling with the city, with the stadium, with the fans and with the history of this great club. For me the red and black colors, the fans and the club will always remain something special. Even if I live in Holland, when they play the first thing I check is the result of Milan.”

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Of the many great victories, which do you remember most fondly?

“The 1988-89 Champions League final in Barcelona against Steaua was special, a match that gave us the first international triumph in years that the club had been waiting for. It was the fulfillment of Berlusconi’s dream, who from day one wanted to reach the top of the world by putting on a show. We made him happy.”

If you had to explain to young people the European DNA of your Milan, what would you say?

“It was the unity of a company that had two experienced managers of the calibre of Berlusconi and Galliani at the helm. Berlusconi had a vision and he carried it forward by choosing coaches and players well.

“Over the years we had a super team: with Tassotti, Baresi, Costacurta, Maldini and Filippo Galli we had the best defense in Europe. In midfield with Ancelotti there were Donadoni, Rijkaard, Colombo, Evani and Albertini; in attack me, Gullit, Virdis, Massaro, etc.

“The mentality was to always win, at all costs. Even if we were down a few minutes from the end. The coach is important, but if you have a core of champions everything is easier.”

Do you sometimes think back to that ankle injury that forced you to retire from football so soon?

“It was hard to accept that I had to stop playing at 28. I saw Maldini, Costacurta, Baresi, Tassotti and Costacurta who played until they were almost 40 and for them it was a great thing. I would have liked it too, but I would have been happy with 7-8 more seasons. Unfortunately it wasn’t possible.”

What does Milan need to get back to winning like in your day?

“Milan are a great club, it has a fantastic stadium and super fans. Unfortunately in recent years Inter has ‘ruled’ and for the Milan fans it was a blow to the heart. Difficult times… I am convinced that Milan will return to winning.

“Maybe it could help to have more Italians. You have some good players but your teams use them little and the national team suffers because of it. In Spain, for example, they value talent more.”

Do you like the new style of ​​football that Fonseca is trying to convey to the group?

“They don’t have the great players that were there in my day and so it’s not easy to always get results. The coach changed after a few years: we need to give Fonseca time to work and be patient.”

You met Ibrahimovic when you were at Ajax. Do you have any anecdotes to tell us?

“I was the youth team coach, he was young but already in the first team. We met on the training pitch and he asked me to show him what I could do with the ball, but with that ankle I could no longer run or shoot.”

Years later, he is a director at Milan. Does Zlatan convince you in his new role?

“I didn’t think he would become a director, but he has lived in football for a long time and has a lot of experience. Clubs need people who have played, who know what it means to be a footballer. Zlatan has travelled the world, he has been in many clubs, he has always shown a winning mentality and he will transmit it. He can be a great help in bringing Milan back to the top.”

Your compatriot Reijnders is surprising everyone. Did you expect him to become so decisive?

“His explosion was a bit unexpected for me because at AZ he was quite good, but… without exaggerating. He arrived in Milan at 25, so already formed, and I didn’t think he could become so strong, make so much progress.

“On the pitch he is fun because he does what he thinks and transmits joy. Every now and then he makes mistakes, but he is not afraid and often he comes up with incredible plays.”

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Is he already among the best midfielders in the world?

“Yes, he is among the greatest around.”

Morata, on the other hand, is having some ups and downs in his first year at Milan.

“He’s had a couple of injuries and it’s not easy for a striker if you’re out and you can’t find that scoring feeling. He did well at Atletico and he has experience: I’m convinced that he will give a big hand to the team in the second part of the season.”

Is Camarda the future of Milan?

“I know he is very young and I have seen some of his action in the first team: Milan have a gold nugget in their hands and I hope he can help the club win.”

Does Leao lack some consistency and a few goals to become one of the world’s top players?

“He’s good, he often dribbles past one or two opponents and has ideas that you don’t see often. Leao has great potential and it’s up to him to show it fully. He can still grow a lot and do better.”

Did Milan’s win at the Bernabeu in early November remind you of the Champions League semi-final in which you eliminated Real Madrid?

“It was a great success. Like those in the past. I visited Ancelotti the week after and for him it wasn’t a great match… Milan, on the other hand, achieved a great result and relaunched themselves in the Champions League standings.”

The top eight is within reach…

“There are two wins left, and in Europe there are no easy games. I hope Milan avoids the playoffs and goes straight to the round of 16. Thinking about winning the Champions League is… a lot, but in the future they can do it again.”

With Milan out of the running, who do you see in pole position for the Scudetto?

“Serie A is fun this year because there are so many clubs close together and fighting for the title. The standings say that 6-7 teams can win the title and this is a great thing for the fans, but also for Italian football which will be followed more abroad too.”

Would Zirkzee have been better off going to Milan instead of United?

“He is a good player, but he is young and lacks experience. He had a good season at Bologna, but with all due respect, Bologna is not Milan, Inter or United. We need to give him time.”