Yahoo Sports Savicevic discusses ‘genius’ Berlusconi call and Fonseca’s Milan: “Prove it”
Few former players are better to discuss the situation at AC Milan currently than Dejan Savicevic, and today, he has taken stock of things whilst reminiscing on the past.
The Montenegrin spent six years playing Milan in the 1990’s, and experienced some of the highest highs that the Rossoneri have seen in their history. Nicknamed Il Genio by the Italian press, the midfielder won three Serie A titles, a Champions League and a European Super Cup in his spell at the club.
Now, he resides within the Diavolo’s hall of fame, and fans would probably hope he could still play for Milan now, with Paulo Fonseca crying out for a player with the midfielder’s skill set, especially after Christian Pulisic’s recent injury.
Today, the legend spoke to Gazzetta dello Sport at length, speaking about his time at the club and the situation that the Rossoneri currently face under Fonseca’s leadership.
Dejan Savicevic, remember [the win against Barcelona]?
“Eh, yes. They were rightly the favourites, but they screwed up big time. Cocky, they were convinced they were going to massacre us and instead we won 4-0, two from Massaro, one from me and then Desailly. The favourites don’t always win and enjoy themselves…”
The Genio’s lob-arc is linked to an anecdote by Berlusconi. What did he tell you?
“He loved me and the night before he called me on the phone: ‘Dejan, I’ve been helping you and defending you for two years, if you’re a Genius prove it.”
He proved it and entered the legend of Milan and the most beautiful goals. Not bad, is it?
“Yes yes. It’s very nice to be remembered, Milan has a great history, it’s one of the greatest and most famous teams in the world and it’s really nice to know that you’ve been part of it. They invited me to the 125th anniversary ceremony, but I can’t come to Milan. I’m sorry, I know many comrades and friends will be there, unfortunately, I’m busy with my Federation, I’m the president, there’s a lot of work. I send everyone a big hug.”
Certainly reciprocated by those who do not forget the Genius’ happy seasons. The balance sheet?
“I did good things, others less so. Milan gave me a lot, I perhaps could have done more. I’m sorry for the final in Vienna in 1995. I was injured, maybe I played against Ajax and we won. Who knows…”
The integration in Milan was not easy. Did he struggle a lot?
“Well, yes. The beginning was complicated. A year and a half. I was in difficulty, I wanted to go home. I didn’t play, I also had some physical problems and then there were three giants in front of me: Gullit, Van Basten and Rijkaard…”
In short, a rough start…
“I was sick. Problems with the language, the city, the food. New teammates and a different league. I was at Red Star, I had won a European Cup. I was supposed to go to Juve, then Roma, then Monaco in France. But I chose Milan, the manager Ariedo Braida came and we did it quickly. I accepted, then at Milanello I had doubts…”
President Berlusconi said: ‘Boban and I convinced him to stay. Was that the right version?
“Yes, Zvone helped me a lot. He told me: ‘Dejan, don’t be a fool, you’re the strongest of all, you can’t escape. You’ll see, you play and you smash everything.”
Do you remember the first game? 5-4 to you, at Pescara….
“Of course, I remember it. Even the goals. Allegri scored the first one, then Maldini equalised, then Van Basten scored a bunch. You know, Marco used to score three-four at a time.”
Wednesday at the San Siro is Champions League. Milan-Red Star, the teams of his life…
“I played a lot and I won a lot. Three titles in Belgrade, three scudetti with Milan. I played my first game at the San Siro with Red Star in the Champions Cup, round of 16, in October 1988. It was an exciting spectacle, but I wasn’t in great shape.
“I was in the military, I got up at 5am, there were crazy, unbalanced hours, I trained little and badly. The best that time was Dragan Stojkovic, my great friend Pixi. That Milan was very strong, then they won the cup.”
After the two incredible matches in Belgrade. Some people still say that Sacchi has the fog to thank for that. Is that so?
‘Mah, maybe. With the rules now, with the repetition from the minute of suspension, maybe it would have been different. Then three matches were played, or almost, one at the San Siro, two at the Marakana.
“One tied, one suspended seven minutes after my goal, one ended on penalties. Milan then beat Real 5-0 in the semi-final and Steaua 4-0 in the final. A great success, a well-deserved cup.”
You made up for it and won two. One with Red Star, one with AC Milan. Nobody has managed it. Genius stuff?
“No one at AC Milan. But Jugovic did: with Stella and with Juve. We were a very good team. It wasn’t a very brilliant game, but finals are conditioned by many factors.”
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“In 1991 we beat Marseille on penalties at the San Nicola in Bari. Then Bari brought me luck, it is a city very close to my Montenegro. A few years later I came back with AC Milan, we won 5-3 and I scored four goals. Incredible, I had never scored so much in a match, not even at the beginning with Buducnost.
“Massaro had scored straight away, Daniele and I were a great pair, then it all came easy to me.”
Massaro-Savicevic. Like in Athens 1994, the second Champions Cup and the lob that was to become the nightmare of goalkeeper Zubizarreta’s nights. Do you see it often?
“I have it in my memory and it will never be erased again. Like that wonderful, unforgettable night. How do you do it? My best goal? Maybe, I think. Definitely the most, how do you say?, televised: it ended up on tapes and DVDs, it’s very emotional. On the Internet, it has become almost viral. But I’ve also done many beautiful ones with Red Star.”
