Dutch style wins Maldini over

By Michael Harrold in Eindhoven

AC Milan defender Paolo Maldini's respect for Dutch football runs deep. From Frank Rijkaard, Ruud Gullit and Marco van Basten to Jaap Stam and Clarence Seedorf, Maldini has played alongside the best in a Milan career spanning two decades.

PSV respect
It is a respect that PSV Eindhoven also earned at the San Siro last week. The Dutch side's enterprising performance was not reflected in the 2-0 scoreline, but it impressed the normally unflappable Milan rearguard. The Rossoneri also started the second leg of their quarter-final against FC Internazionale Milano with a 2-0 lead, before shutting out their rivals in the return. But Maldini believes PSV represent a different proposition.

'Different route'
"The way to the final will be by a different route," Maldini said ahead of Wednesday's game at the Philips Stadion. "You cannot compare the two matches because they are of differing degrees of importance. The biggest difference is that this is a semi-final and there's a lot more to play for.

'Dangerous side'
"PSV are a dangerous side who unbalanced us in the first leg," he added. "They showed our weaknesses by attacking constantly. In the second half of the first leg, [PSV] created a number of dangerous situations, so we have to be vigilant, especially in defence."

'Excellent teamwork'
The 36-year-old continued: "I have a lot of respect for Dutch football. They have developed their own style since the 1970s, based on excellent teamwork and movement - and PSV defend those values. But our club also has its own character and this allows us to get results."

Deportivo defeat
Nothing could have been more out of character than Milan's quarter-final defeat by RC Deportivo La Coruña last season, when the Spanish team reversed a 4-1 first-leg deficit to win through 5-4 on aggregate. This veteran, though, is still looking to the future.

'Looking forward'
"I'm not thinking back to La Coruna because in football, as in life, you have to learn from the past and move on," Maldini said. "Deportivo belongs to the past and we have learned from that. Now we are looking forward, not back.

'Tremendously motivated'
"Milan have a long tradition of winning in Europe and Italy so it is important that we bring this into the new century," he went on. "It would be great for me as well, as I am coming towards the end of my career and I am tremendously motivated to do well."

Rossoneri luminaries
Maldini has played in every minute of Milan's run to the semi-finals, looking every bit as comfortable alongside Stam, Alessandro Nesta and Cafu as he did when Milan last played at PSV in December 1992. Rossoneri luminaries Franco Baresi, Mauro Tassotti and Alessandro Costacurta joined Maldini at the back for that 2-1 win.

Astonishing longevity
That Milan side's Dutch triumvirate are already enjoying successful coaching careers - Rijkaard at FC Barcelona, Van Basten with the Dutch national team and Gullit up the road with Feyenoord. Maldini, though, just keeps on playing.

Burning desire
His longevity is astonishing. Wednesday will see his 148th appearance in European competition - the previous record, set by Inter's Giuseppe Bergamo, was 117. He has already played in six finals with Milan, winning four. But his desire remains as strong as when he first lifted the European Champion Clubs' Cup in 1989.

'Remarkable things'
"Winning is what you play football for and it's important for any player's career to achieve remarkable things," he said. "Winning competitions such as this is what keeps me going."