Arrigo Sacchi, the legendary Italian football manager, recently reminisced with Gazzetta dello Sport about AC Milan’s historic encounters with Real Madrid during his tenure as head coach. The rivalry between these two European giants is etched in football history, with four memorable matches and eight goals scored by Milan, including five in one magical night.
The saga began in April 1989 during the first leg of the European Cup semi-final. Marco van Basten’s spectacular diving header equalized Hugo Sanchez’s goal at the Bernabeu, setting the stage for what was to come. Sacchi revealed an interesting anecdote from 1998 when he was coaching in Madrid. Emilio Butragueno, still a Real Madrid executive, confessed that Milan had been spied on and studied extensively. Reports described Milan’s speed as incredible and their rhythm as suffocating. It was the first time an Italian team had gone to the Santiago Bernabeu to dominate.
Sacchi emphasized the shift from the traditional catenaccio style to a more proactive approach. “We went there to play as protagonists. If they had the ball, we attacked to take it away. We never retreated. The truth is, I had a team of reliable people, a mature team,” he explained.
The return leg at San Siro saw one of the most exhilarating nights in Milan’s history – a 5-0 victory over Real Madrid. Sacchi shared a particular memory from before the match, highlighting the team’s commitment and seriousness even in training. An injury to Chicco Evani during a practice match led to Carlo Ancelotti being repositioned as a left-winger. “I put the most available player I had in that position, someone I was sure would do everything I asked: Carlo Ancelotti. He played a great game and scored the first goal,” Sacchi recalled.
Speaking of Ancelotti, now Real Madrid’s coach and considered one of the best in the world, Sacchi expressed no surprise at his success. “Carlo is an adorable man. He’s intelligent and modest – qualities that never travel separately. He was the first player I asked Berlusconi for, even though there were doubts about his knees. I told him we would immediately win the championship with Carlo. And we did.”
Reflecting on the current Milan team’s chances against Real Madrid, Sacchi emphasized the importance of knowing the club’s history. “I hope all the players know Milan’s history, which is in football’s history books. The club, with its style and vision, comes before the team, and the team comes before any individual. It all starts from there,” he stated.
When asked about the recent controversy surrounding Rafael Leao, Sacchi offered his perspective on player management. “I’ll just say that I treated all my players the same way. Of course, Van Basten was the strongest, but I never compromised. Between a skilled player and a reliable one, I choose the reliable one,” he explained.
Sacchi’s reflections offer a fascinating glimpse into the mindset that led AC Milan to dominate European football, highlighting the importance of team cohesion, tactical innovation, and respect for club history in achieving success at the highest level.
