Gullit discusses Milan’s lack of ‘leaders’ with new owners ‘needing time’

Ruud Gullit was part of one of the most iconic AC Milan squads of all time, and whilst reminiscing on that team, he explained the Rossoneri’s biggest difference. 

Carlo Ancelotti, Franco Baresi, Paolo Maldini, Marco Van Basten, Frank Rijkaard, Gullit. Not only are these some of the most iconic names in football history, but they all played within the same Milan team in the late 80s.

Now, the names aren’t at the same level. Ballon d’Or winners are not among the Rossoneri ranks, and fans are dreaming of a replication of this team at some point. However, it does not seem like it will be any time soon.

In an interview with Marca (via Milan News), Gullit spoke about why the Diavolo are no longer at the same heights as they once were.

On what that AC Milan team was like…

“There were many leaders in the team, we helped each other a lot. Today I don’t see that, everyone talks but they don’t correct each other. In my day if you didn’t work well they shouted at you, but because we all wanted to win.”

Did that Milan change the way of understanding football?

“There were certain teams that were more advanced in the way they played for their time, like Real Madrid, Liverpool, Ajax. Ourselves for the way we press and attack. It was the time of the catenaccio and what we did was try to press further forward.

“We were pioneers in pressing, we were having a lot of fun. As everyone saw, Real Madrid against Barcelona fell offside 12-13 times, in our time the same and even more, we worked for that.”

How influential was Sacchi?

“Sacchi was very important. He had a special football in his head. He elevated the difficulty of working without the ball. The goal was to win the ball back as quickly as possible. It was very important to have players with this ability and this mentality. He made a great selection of players. Almost every day we did tactical work, especially ball recovery, and we worked more without the ball.”

On Berlusconi and Galliani…

“Berlusconi was one of the best presidents I could imagine. Every week he came to training, he talked to us, he was charismatic. He did a great job. I am honoured to have been able to have a president like him. I think the current president of Real Madrid has the same charisma.

“It is important to have a main figure who loves the club, who has that feeling because then he will know exactly what needs to be done and he gives passion to the team. This is what they have in common. Today’s teams are led by foreigners, by Americans who buy clubs to make money, not for the history of the club.

“That is why it is difficult sometimes to have this feeling. It is not by chance that the best clubs have someone who loves the club and knows its history.”

On Milan today…

“Milan is very different now, I don’t know anyone who works there. I’m sorry because it’s part of my history. I hope the owners of Milan will create their own legacy, but we need time. Last week they lost to Napoli.

“They go up, they go down, they lose, they win, at the moment they haven’t found a way or a way to stay on the right track. Two years ago they won the championship and I was delighted. You need a lot of time to create your own legacy.”

Fonseca has stated that there are several leaders in the squad on more than one occasion, but this is seemingly not a shared opinion, and perhaps something which needs further scrutiny from the Portuguese.