Today I found this article its pretty sweet:
He may have passed a century of UEFA Champions League matches, but AC Milan captain Paolo Maldini is as excited as ever at the prospect of taking on FC Bayern München in the quarter-finals of a "fantastic tournament".
'New adventure'Maldini will make his 102nd UEFA Champions League appearance before a sold-out San Siro on Tuesday night, but far from being battle-weary, the evergreen 38-year-old cannot wait to lead his team out. "Each game is a new adventure for me, even after all these years," he said. "This is the best experience you can have as a player. Playing in front of a full house at San Siro in the latter stages of a fantastic tournament is unbeatable, and for a player who has suffered as many injuries as I have recently, the Champions League theme tune is the best therapy of all."
Injury woesThe former Italian international has been plagued by knee problems over the last two campaigns, and was rested for his side's 1-1 draw at AS Roma on Saturday with Bayern in mind. Indeed, the skipper's plight reflects that of his club, whose casualty list has reduced their ability to claw back an eight-point penalty imposed at the start of the Serie A season. Maldini, though, has reason to be confident of overcoming opponents whom the Rossoneri defeated 5-2 on aggregate in last year's first knockout round.
'Spirit of Manchester'"Both sides are more or less the same as they were last year," he said. "Neither has made major changes so it should be a similar sort of match. Perhaps last year we were playing better but we are improving now." Maldini's optimism also owes to memories of their last UEFA Champions League final triumph, against Juventus at Old Trafford in 2003. "We still have the spirit of Manchester in this team and, to be honest, it has been there for years. The spirit of Manchester is why we do so well in this competition. Players come and go as the years go by, but fortunately that same team spirit prevails.
'New adventure'Maldini will make his 102nd UEFA Champions League appearance before a sold-out San Siro on Tuesday night, but far from being battle-weary, the evergreen 38-year-old cannot wait to lead his team out. "Each game is a new adventure for me, even after all these years," he said. "This is the best experience you can have as a player. Playing in front of a full house at San Siro in the latter stages of a fantastic tournament is unbeatable, and for a player who has suffered as many injuries as I have recently, the Champions League theme tune is the best therapy of all."
Injury woesThe former Italian international has been plagued by knee problems over the last two campaigns, and was rested for his side's 1-1 draw at AS Roma on Saturday with Bayern in mind. Indeed, the skipper's plight reflects that of his club, whose casualty list has reduced their ability to claw back an eight-point penalty imposed at the start of the Serie A season. Maldini, though, has reason to be confident of overcoming opponents whom the Rossoneri defeated 5-2 on aggregate in last year's first knockout round.
'Spirit of Manchester'"Both sides are more or less the same as they were last year," he said. "Neither has made major changes so it should be a similar sort of match. Perhaps last year we were playing better but we are improving now." Maldini's optimism also owes to memories of their last UEFA Champions League final triumph, against Juventus at Old Trafford in 2003. "We still have the spirit of Manchester in this team and, to be honest, it has been there for years. The spirit of Manchester is why we do so well in this competition. Players come and go as the years go by, but fortunately that same team spirit prevails.
source: uefa.com
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