AC Milan’s legendary captain Franco Baresi has urged the Rossoneri fans to pack the San Siro on Sunday, when they face Napoli in a match which may well prove crucial in determining which of the clubs secure second place in Serie A.
Only four points separate the two sides. With the Partenopei ahead and only seven league games remaining for both, the atmosphere at the home of last year’s runners-up could be an important factor in the outcome of the clash.
Baresi – who played 719 official games for the Diavolo and was voted their ‘player of the century’ in 1999 – spoke of his personal memories of the fixture, citing duels with the great Diego Maradona especially and expressing his desire for the support to turn out in vast numbers for the latest occasion.
“Milan-Napoli always excites me. It reminds me of our great challenges for the Scudetto against the Napoli of Maradona,” he told Milan Channel.
“It would be nice if our fans could fill the San Siro on Sunday night.
“After the draw in Florence [against Fiorentina] and all the polemic in recent days it is important to give an answer on the field against our adversary for direct entry into the Champions League.”
With the Rossoneri attendances down 11,000 on average from last season, to around 41,000, the former sweeper pointed to a similarly important and well-attended game from earlier this season as a benchmark for the fans.
“To sell out the stadium would push the team. [Even more so] with an atmosphere similar to the first leg against Barcelona.”
That match drew an estimated 75,000 crowd – a figure topped only by the games against defending champions Juventus (77,000) and city rivals Inter (79,000) this season.
Should Baresi’s call be heeded, come Sunday it may not be surprising to see a similar number bear witness to what must be considered the real acid test for Massimiliano Allegri’s resurgent Milan side.
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