The former Rossoneri striker: “They thought Max was ‘done,’ but he’s a coach who gets results. But he must aim high. Leao is my favorite.”
He was the first to put the Super Cup in his suitcase. In the summer of 1993, to promote the upcoming World Cup in the United States, the US convinced the League, Milan (Scudetto winners) and Torino (Coppa Italia winners) to play the final in Washington. It was the first time Serie A had ever played for a title abroad. And it was Marco Simone himself who presented the trophy to the Rossoneri. A poacher’s goal, after a challenge between Mussi and Savicevic, with the Rossoneri striker quick to beat Giovanni Galli. “It wasn’t a memorable game, it was played in the afternoon in Washington and it was very hot,” recalls Simone. “On one side was Capello, on the other Mondonico: pragmatic coaches who gave little to the spectacle.”
Today, playing the Super Cup outside Italy has become almost the norm, but back then it was a bit strange, wasn’t it?
“Indeed. Although there was already a feeling that Italian soccer needed to open up to foreign countries. And I’m not just talking about the financial gains from the event, but also the resulting boost to its image. Of course, there are some drawbacks: the main one is that Italian fans can’t enjoy the final live.“
What memories do you have of that game in Washington?
”I was struck by the enthusiasm of the people. Milan, Berlusconi’s Milan, was recognized as a world-class team, not just in Italy. And then we played in a legendary stadium, the Robert Fitzgerald Kennedy, then home to the Washington Redskins American football team. For me, having always loved foreign countries and traveling, it was a great experience, beyond winning and scoring the decisive goal. Perhaps for other players today it is less so…”.
Let’s move on to the present. Milan has landed in Riyadh, but Inter has taken first place in the standings…
“It’s still early days, and the championship seems very balanced to me. The Nerazzurri are at the top now, but previously there were also Napoli, Roma, and Milan itself. Everything changes quickly, perhaps too quickly, and often hasty judgments are made. But that’s typical in the world of soccer with social media.“
Are you referring to anything in particular?
”The reasoning is valid in general and is also what makes the soccer environment ‘heavy’. Then, if we want to look at a specific situation, take Allegri: they said he was ‘done’, finished, out of touch. And instead…”.
Are you an ‘Allegri-style’ coach?
“Let’s forget about labels. Max can be criticized for how his teams play, of course. Everyone talks a lot, but in reality, a coach’s project lasts a week: the time between one game and the next. If there are no results, the pressure increases and a coach’s time decreases. And Allegri gets results, even if there is one thing I just can’t forgive him for.“
What is that?
”His constant repetition that the goal is to finish in the top four. Okay, Milan finished eighth last season, but it’s still Milan: they must always set out to win, no ifs, no buts. Then, if they don’t succeed, we can talk about the Champions League and the financial consequences of qualifying for Europe’s top competition. The same goes for Inter and Juventus.“
In the Super Cup semifinal, there’s Conte’s Napoli, coming off two consecutive defeats.
”Here too, people forget too quickly. Antonio achieved something extraordinary just a few months ago. And today, he’s there, among the leaders. It’s not so easy to repeat that level of success in Naples.”
Do you think Milan are better?
“I don’t know, it’s even harder to make predictions in a one-off game. And then there’s Leao, who’s doubtful, isn’t there?”
Do you like Rafa?
“He’s my favorite at Milan at the moment. Mind you, there are other great players like Maignan and Pulisic, and Modric deserves a separate discussion that goes beyond the pitch. But Leao has that ability to sparkle and make a difference that excites me. In my opinion, he will eventually reach his full potential and become even stronger.”
What did you say about Modric?
“You can see that he still plays with the same enthusiasm he had when he was a nobody. It’s not trivial, he’s won everything with Real, he’s a super champion, but you can see that he has genuine passion. A bit like Gattuso was in my day: the fans sense that and love him.”
Who is today’s Simone?
“I’m not saying he’s exactly like me, but for his ability to play both as a true striker and as a link-up player, I choose Lautaro. Compared to me, he’s even better suited to playing center forward. Yes, he’s a real Toro.”
And what is Marco doing?
“I founded Monaco United with two partners, a women’s club where I am president, coach, and even warehouse manager (laughs, ed.). In four years, we aim to reach Serie A.”
