AC Milan’s honorary vice president Franco Baresi has looked ahead to what is a special game between Milan and Monza given the past involving Silvio Berlusconi, while he also spoke about Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s return.

Milan face their Lombard neighbours at home this afternoon looking to build on the 2-1 midweek win against Newcastle United at St. James’ Park, which was not enough to reach the last 16 of the Champions League but was still a good way to end the group stage.

The Rossoneri lost 3-2 in their last Serie A outing against Atalanta at the Gewiss Stadium, with Luis Muriel scoring a 94th-minute winner to earn all three points for the home side and put Pioli’s men nine points behind the current league leaders Inter.

Baresi was interviewed by Sky not long before the match against Monza at San Siro this lunchtime, with his comments relayed by MilanNews.

On Berlusconi: “Special match for who Berlusconi was. A president that can’t be repeated, but today will be a good match. I think he was always very ambitious, he always demanded the best. We have to look ahead, we have other objectives.

“He aimed big, he also did it with Monza. Today was a fundamental match because we have to take points and not lose them, as well as consolidate our place.”

On the future of the club: “Everything is possible, Milan have a great history. We know that the interests are different, greater, but we have a history in our football, we can create problems for everyone. We will have to be good at spending well.”

On Ibrahimovic: “Ibra we know what character he is, his thinking is winning. It’s an added value, I don’t need to give advice.”

On the absence of Italians in the squad: “Many new players have arrived, we tried for some Italians but we know how it went in the market. We have had many Italian players, but our club always looks at everything.”

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