Veterans thrive at Milan

By Paolo Menicucci

Some football players are like good wine - the older, the better. This is certainly the case with the AC Milan defensive duo of Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Costacurta. The veterans have given Milan the benefit of all their experience in the UEFA Champions League and, in doing so, have convinced the club to renew their contracts.

Magnificent Maldini
Maldini's great season is no surprise as the 35-year-old club captain is arguably still one of the best defenders in Europe. Hearing of his new two-year deal with the Rossoneri, Valencia CF's Amedeo Carboni - another veteran Italian defender still going strong - said: "A player like him can play for as long as he likes."

Troubled period
Costacurta's case is not so simple. In 2001/02 a serious knee injury ended his season early and forced him to consider retirement. After much speculation last summer about a possible future in Major League Soccer, he settled for beginning the season on the Rossoneri substitutes' bench.

Strength in reserve
His patience and versatility have been repaid. As back-up to Alessandro Nesta, Maldini and now to left-back Kahka Kaladze or right-back Dario Simic, the former Italian international, who turned 37 last month, has played 18 Serie A matches and nine of last ten games in the UEFA Champions League, overcoming competition from the likes of Danish international Martin Laursen and FIFA World Cup winner Roque Junior.

'Serenity and calmness'
The performances of Costacurta, currently in his 16th campaign with Milan, have been so convincing as to earn him a one-year contract extension. "My secret is the serenity and calmness with which I've trained and played this season," said Costacurta after penning the new deal. "The experience I have earned by playing top-level football for so long also helps."

No sentiment
Another old head recently rewarded a new contract is Juventus FC defender Ciro Ferrara. Now 36 has just won the Scudetto with the Bianconeri, the seventh of his career, and he spoke for Maldini and Costacurta, both former international colleagues, when he said: "Big clubs never reward players if they don't really deserve it. If we have been offered another contract it's just because we deserved it with our performances on the pitch."

Derby record
Maldini and Costacurta have both won the Champions League three times with Milan - in 1989, 1990 and 1994 when they formed a fantastic defensive line with Milan legends Franco Baresi and Mauro Tassotti. Tomorrow Maldini will play his 64th match in the Champions League and become the player who has competed in the most Milan derbies, taking over from former Internazionale FC defender Giuseppe Bergomi with a total of 45. Costacurta, meanwhile, will play his 47th Champions League game.

Defensive composure
Ahead of the decisive leg of Milan's Champions League semi-final derby with Internazionale FC tomorrow, it is clear what the pair's experience has given the Rossoneri: they have kept clean sheets in seven of their 15 Champions League games this season. However according to Maldini, Milan still have plenty to improve in order to become a great team.

Big-match temperament
"We specialise in important matches," he said. "That's why I think that we are not a great team yet. Great teams also play well against smaller opponents." Maldini's side may not have won enough of those games against smaller opponents to take this season's Scudetto, but another grandstand display to win the 'derby of the century' would certainly do his and Costacurta's burgeoning legend no harm.