Fabio Capello: "That day, I knew how to read the game"

Arriving at AC Milan as a coach, Fabio Capello succeeded another superstar, Arrigo Sacchi, in 1991, continuing an unbeaten run that would reach 58 matches in Serie A! In the meantime, Capello had already won his first league title with the Rossoneri. He would go on to win four in five years, punctuated by three Champions League finals, including a victory that remains to this day one of the greatest masterpieces by a coach or a team: the 4-0 victory in the Champions League final against Johan Cruyff's Barça side.

Your name will forever be associated with that victory on May 18, 1994, in Athens, against the great Barça of Romario, Stoichkov, Guardiola, Koman... led by Johan Cruyff. More than thirty years later, do you still remember the preparations for that match?

Of course. Baresi and Costacurta, my two starting central defenders, were suspended! So my first idea was to field Marcel Desailly and Filippo Galli, with Tassoti and Maldini on the wings. However, the week before, we lost 2-0 in a friendly against Fiorentina, with a brace from Battistuta.

Nothing to reassure you!

That was precisely the message from the journalists at the press conference: "Is this result a cause for concern before the final against Barcelona?"