New Fulham director of football Franco Baresi has given a detailed interview to the Daily Mirror’s Darren Lewis ahead of his first game at Craven Cottage, which will see the Whites take on FC Haka in the InterToto Cup this afternoon.
The Italian’s surprise arrival has been disrupted Jean Tigana’s preparations for the new campaign with persistent reports in Italy suggesting that Baresi, previously vice-president at AC Milan, has been hired to succeed the popular Frenchman when the Cottage cult hero’s contract expires in the summer. Baresi gave that rumour credence when he referenced the possibility of taking over from Tigana in an interview that has subsequently disappeared from the Rossoneri’s official website.
He was striking a different tone of today’s game at Fulham’s historic home, telling Lewis:
“I know that I will have to fall into line with the existing structure. IÂ am getting to know the players and I am sharing my ideas with those of Jean Tigana. I will definitely be working as a member of staff. We have some good players in the squad. Two of them, Zat Knight and Sean Davis, are already first choices in the England Under-21 side. We also have an excellent goalkeeper in Edwin van der Sar. Of course Fulham are not Manchester United, but we are looking forward to playing in the InterToto Cup. We must start to experience playing in Europe.
Baresi, who made more than 750 first-team appearances for Milan and was part of the Italian side that reached the 1994 World Cup final, wants to attract some of the continent’s best young talent to Motspur Park and build a modern academy.
“I would also like to bring to London some young prospects. I did what I could for Milan with their youth team who won two Viareggio tournaments under me. That is something like winning the World Cup for younger players. The youth team were doing well. For me though, I’m starting from the beginning after 30 years. I’m a little worried, but above all I feel curious about the future. Of course I’ll miss the love of the Milan fans, but now I only want to think about this new adventure.”
