Berlusconi: “My goal is two Champions League finals within 5 years, my heart continues to beat for Milan”

Silvio Berlusconi will celebrate 30 years at Milan on Saturday and he sat down with La Gazzetta dello Sport for an extensive interview and protected Galliani’s work and said he’s going to ask Miha to win all of his remaining matches next time they meet.

While the Milan fans in Italy and abroad are protesting against Silvio Berlusconi and the way the club has been managed in the last years, it’s impossible to deny the amazing success the Rossoneri have had with il Presidente in charge. On Saturday he will celebrate 30 years at Milan and he will hope to see his side defeat Napoli two days later in a match that could be crucial to keep Milan close to third.
 
“What rating would I give to my 30 years at Milan? Our goal was to make it a 10, but given how things have gone I would say more than 10,” Berlusconi told Wednesday’s edition of the Italian sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport. “The past 30 years have been magical. We’ve won more than everyone. We now have 363 million fans over the world. And most of all our love for Milan has filled our heart with joy.
“The best day over the last 30 years? There have been many. The 4-0 victory in Barcelona over Steaua Bucharest for the first European Cup win was unforgettable. I’ll never forget seeing the Camp Nou filled with Rossoneri flags. Every Milan supporter, not just the team, won that cup. 

“However the two finals in Athens are also unforgettable, for different reasons. A day to forget? The comeback by Liverpool in Istanbul, as we incredibly lost the Champions League final after leading 3-0 after the first half. We already forgot about it thanks to the two goals by Pippo [Inzaghi] in the final against Liverpool two years later. The Champions League final from 1993 still leaves a bitter taste. We arrived having won every match in that competition, 10 for 10. We lost 1-0 against Marseille.
“If I would change anything if I could go back? I wouldn’t change what I want from the team, which is to always dominate when on the field, and to win while playing good football. The most important decision I made? Becoming responsible for Milan and giving it the mandate of becoming the most successful team in the world. A goal that seemed impossible according to everyone.

“Who gave the orders to have the team leave the pitch against Marseille (in March 1991, when the lights went out at the Stade Vélodrome two minutes before the end and Galliani refused to let the team get back onto the pitch, claiming that television crews had ‘disrupted the match’ by going out onto the field)? It wasn’t premeditated. Adriano Galliani explained to me what happened. I remember that we accepted the heavy sanctions from UEFA (UEFA declared Milan walking out a forfeit and Galliani was banned until July 1993). Newspapers wrote that Milan’s winning run was over, but it was just the beginning. 

“The coach I’m most fond of? Arrigo Sacchi reminds me of the great opening years. However I have a great friendship with Carlo Ancelotti and Fabio Capello. Which star would I like to see on the field again? I’d like to see all of our stars. From Marco van Basten, who left football too soon, to Franco Baresi, our captain. 

“Then there is Dejan Savićević, Ronaldinho, Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Costacurta, Mauro Tassotti, Roberto Donadoni, Daniele Massaro, George Weah, Ruud Gullit, Andriy Shevchenko and Kaka… I can’t name them all. However I am fond of all of them and I was like an older brother for many of them. I would like to add that Milan are the only club to have three players on the podium for the Ballon d’Or.

“What it’s like to see Milan not fighting for the Scudetto and the Champions League considering I always want Milan to be there? Maybe we aren’t as far away from that as people thought. I was busy with several things off the field, but now I’m focused on what is happening on the pitch. We aren’t just working on the present, as we are trying to build a team that can win in the future. I am sure we will accomplish that. Over the years we have made 8 Champions League finals. The goal is to reach 10 within the next 5 year.
“If I’m worried that foreign clubs will try to sign Gianluigi Donnarumma (La Liga’s Barcelona reportedly sent scouts to the Genoa match to follow the excellent 16-year-old goalkeeper)? Donnarumma is just one of several youngsters we have and I hope he will remain with us for 20 years.

“If that fact that Barbara recently said that the goal is the Europa League while Galliani said it is the Champions League a confirmation that they see things differently? It shows that they both care for the club. Despite her age, Barbara reasons like a manager while Adriano is more or a fan. They are both right.
“It’s clear the Europe League is more within our reach. Over my career I’ve always set myself goals that might be out of reach, but I’ve always achieved them. If winning the Coppa Italia will be enough if Milan don’t make Europe via the Serie A? It wouldn’t be enough, but it would be important. 

“Winning is always nice, and a Coppa Italia triumph would guarantee a place in Europe. If it’s true that before signing Mihajlovic I turned down a chance to sign Maurizio Sarri? When you pick someone it means that the other candidates are overlooked. Even ones that you have respect for like Sarri.

“If three coaches in three years is too much? I would prefer three Champions League finals in three seasons. I said that football is great because more than money is needed to win and that’s a phrase that describes Milan currently? I agree with that, however we’ve shown that we can build a strong team while investing money. I’ve invested more than €1.2 billion on Milan over the past 30 years.

“What goes through my mind thinking that 30 years ago you bought Milan and they were third, and they now sit in sixth? I bought Milan during one of their worst periods. In the 5 years prior they participated in Serie B twice, and the other three they finished in 14th, sixth and fifth. The fact that Milan are sixth today garners attention. It’s weird for fans given we’ve finished in the top three 20 times over the past 30 years. 

“If a deal for Mr. Bee isn’t concluded by the end of the season will I look to negotiate with others? My goal is to help Milan. Investors with limitless resources have entered the world of football so it is difficult to remain competitive. That is why we believe fresh resources are needed. If it’s true my daughter Marina (who is part of Fininvest – Milan’s holding company) wants me to sell the club entirely? That is not true. 

“Marina always tells me to follow my heart and my heart continues to beat for Milan. San Siro? It is part of our glorious history. The attachment Milan fans have for it is profound. Owning a stadium appears to be key, so Barbara (who tried to push a new stadium) has the right idea. However unforeseen issues arose. We will continue to play at San Siro, but we won’t give up on looking at alternatives.

“If bringing back players like Balotelli and Boateng and renewing Mexes’ and De Jong’s contract were errors? Why were they errors? Boateng came back and has shown a lot of desire, and he has done well so far. Balotelli has some injury woes. If he can avoid the mistakes he made in the past then he can help us.

“What gift would I like for your 30 years? I would like to eat with the team at Milanello on Saturday. I will use that opportunity to speak with Mihajlovic and ask him to win the remaining matches this season.
“How long will I continue to be Milan president? Let’s see how the next 30 years go.”