The little genious

Andrea Pirlo (Milan)
Milan pearl
After helping Milan to domestic and European success last season, Andrea Pirlo is once again proving his worth. Dominique Antognoni champions the Rossoneri playmaker as his Hotshot

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"Andrea Pirlo is a fantastic player. He knows how to play the ball and he even tracks back and helps his teammates." These are the words of Johan Cruyff - a man who does not hand out compliments freely, especially to Italian footballers. The Dutch master saw Pirlo play his greatest game of the season against Ajax at the Amsterdam Arena that Milan won 1-0 thanks to an Andriy Shevchenko goal. But it was Pirlo’s performance that impressed Cruyff the most.

Since last year’s European and domestic success, Andrea Pirlo has become one of Milan’s most important players. He isn’t just useful or nice to watch - he has become decisive in the important matches. Milan, this season, are more cynical than last year’s team. They create less but hold on to what they have and give little, if anything, away. Here in lies the importance of having footballers, such as Pirlo, who can play the ball. All it takes is one moment of brilliance, a second of magic, just as happened against Ajax, and the points are in the bag.

Nobody is talking about Pirlo anymore as a surprise package, an up-and-coming youngster, fitting into new tactical schemes. Now he is recognised on merit for his moments of skill that illuminate the San Siro and make Milan tick. It was supposed to be Fernando Redondo’s role at the club, or even Demetrio Albertini’s. Instead the first team shirt is Pirlo’s. That explains the reason why the Argentine has played just fifteen minutes of football this season and Albertini was sent to Lazio.

The young man from Brescia has changed a lot since he burst on to the Serie A scene. He was first choice for the whole of last season and his call-up to the full Azzurri team was the confirmation of his talents. He’s not the trequartista that was full of promise at Inter, one who got depressed when he couldn’t quite penetrate defences or make the pass that really mattered. Now he battles in the middle of the park. He fights for the ball because he knows he has an important role in the Milan team. He has a desire to impress that wasn’t there in his Inter days. He has improved his defensive attributes dramatically thanks to Carlo Ancelotti, who himself was a talented midfielder. Instead of playing the likes of Gennaro Gattuso and Massimo Ambrosini together, Ancelotti chooses Pirlo knowing he has a greater technique.

"I have tried to amalgamate the qualities I had before I changed position with this new found grit and determination that I have developed," insists Pirlo, In other words - he’s looking to be the perfect footballer. This year could well be the defining moment for Pirlo. He could become one of Milan’s senators - those who form the integral spine of the team. The likes of Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Nesta, Gattuso and Shevchenko are all irreplaceable and Pirlo could soon be joining them. He is only 25 and is now starting to reach his full maturity as a footballer, but at the same time he already has nigh on ten years experience in Serie A, given that he made his top-flight debut as a 16-year-old for Brescia back in 1995.

How things have changed since his days with the Nerazzurri. But even then it wasn’t his fault he struggled. How often was he joined on the bench by the likes of Youri Djorkaeff and Roberto Baggio? His loan move to Reggina in 1999 made him an idol to the Amaranto faithful, along with Roberto Baronio. But unlike his good friend, Pirlo has gone on to become one of Italy’s top midfielders. After his stint at Reggina, he moved back to Inter where he thought he would play with more continuity under former Under-21 Coach Marco Tardelli. However, the World Cup winner couldn’t find room for the young playmaker and he was once again farmed out to Brescia where he worked well under Carlo Mazzone.

The dark days of Inter seem a distant memory for Pirlo now but he still has room for improvement and he dreams of becoming a regular in Giovanni Trapattoni’s Italy squad. However, with the Azzurri’s new formation Pirlo is regarded as too attacking for Trapattoni "It would be like having Zico just in front of the defence," said Trap.

But should Simone Perrotta or Cristiano Zanetti get injured then at least Trap could have an alternative brimming with quality. There’s no room for Pirlo up front where he used to play for the Azzurrini. Trap already has Francesco Totti and Alessandro Del Piero. The 4-2-3-1 formation penalises Andrea’s characteristics and he has already been lumbered with a Gianni Rivera-like relationship with the Nazionale.

Before his appearance against Romania in November, Pirlo’s last for the Nazionale was the ill-fated match against Wales at Cardiff. The team was filled with reserves and with Luigi Di Biagio and Damiano Tommasi by his side he couldn’t really make an impression on the game. Then Trap changed formation and the rest is history.

The problem, however, doesn’t exist. Pirlo is talented whatever the formation. He has already proved that at Milan and if he continues as he has been this season Trapattoni will find it hard to ignore Milan’s midfield general for the Euro 2004.