An extra 30-minute match is a test for both body and mind.
Back in the locker room, the Milan players collapsed onto the benches.
Perhaps not as tired.
But with the upcoming battle, everyone chose the most relaxed posture.
Every bit of physical fatigue relieved raises the odds of victory.
The medical team and therapists were working intensely, while the players kept eating to replenish energy.
"Don't talk, nobody talk."
Cesare Maldini walked into the locker room waving his hand and said, "I wish I could fight alongside you, but I can't be on the field; you need to rest well and recover well as there's still a tough battle ahead. I don't want to demand anything from you because I'm not perfect myself; I'm not God, and I can make mistakes. Today there were some errors in tactics and the lineup, but there's no time to review them now."
Old Maldini was referring to the midfield arrangement.
In fact, he wanted to start Pirlo more.
