Mauro Tassotti believes this Milan season has not be bad and says Paolo Maldini is ready to take a step forward.

The season ends tomorrow and by the end of Sunday the world will know whether Milan are back in the Champions League.

One man who spent many years with Milan in this competition – as a player and as an assistant coach – is Mauro Tassotti, and he gave an interview to Saturday’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport to discuss some topics.

“Sheva and I often talk about Milan, we try not to miss a game,” Mauro, who works as Shevchenko’s assistant in the Ukraine national team, told the pink newspaper. “What are the first images that come to mind when I think of May 24, 1989? I see myself on the bus, which passes among the fans. I silently watch Maldini, who was my roommate and the friend I had the most confidence with.

“If that was the strongest Milan side ever? I will just say that the 4-0 against Steaua București changed the mentality of Italian football. Before, there was a culture of saving your own skin in away games and attacking at home. It is no coincidence that also Sampdoria and Napoli, in those years, improved their European performances.

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“The Milan of today are not even certain of returning to the Champions League? But there is still hope. I don’t know, I have a feeling… if on Sunday both Inter and Atalanta win then it’d be an almost banal epilogue. Something can still happen, although Milan are not favored.

“How do you prepare for such game seeing as in 2013 I was Allegri’s assistant when we qualified for the CL on the final Matchday? That time we were the masters of our destiny, but in any case the only way is to isolate yourself, to think about doing your own duty. What others do cannot be controlled.

“Would finishing in the Top 4 shift the judgement on Gattuso’s work? I think Rino has done what he had to do in these months that were anything but easy. The season has not been bad, no matter how it goes. If anything, the regret is to have thrown away too many points when the team was ahead of the rivals.

“Would it be right for him to stay on the bench? I think so… looking at the other contenders for the Champions League qualification, many of the big teams had problems. Inter, Roma, also Lazio, who have redeemed themselves in the Coppa Italia. Atalanta have gone beyond expectation and they deserve a separate discussion. A flaw in Rino’s management? I repeat, he did his own. The only thing I don’t understand is why the team expressed their best game in the first part of the league.

“Leonardo and Maldini also have uncertain futures? I’m just saying that their presence has meant a lot to the fans. San Siro is filled with 50k, sometimes 60k Rossoneri hearts and it’s not a coincidence. It’s also due to the directors who have given so much to this club.

“If the friendship with Maldini is still the same? Yes, we talk to each other often. I believe that Paolo has used this year to study and learn. Now he would be ready for a qualitative leap in the role, it is part of the path he has taken in this new role.

“No one is certain of staying due to FFP reasons? I understand the budgetary reasons, but you have to keep your best men, even if they are the most appealing to potential buyers. If you lose them then it’d be double the effort to bounce back.

“Who are Milan’s untouchable players in my opinion? Suso, but perhaps even more so Donnarumma and Romagnoli. In whatever way this season ends, in the next one we must start from them again.”