Capello names 7 Milan players who deserve to stay at San Siro

Former Milan coach Fabio Capello has stated that the Rossoneri should focus on bringing in two or three high-level reinforcements who can 'really make the difference' for next season, rather than making a 'total revolution'.

Milan's emphatic 3-0 win over Inter in the Coppa Italia semi-final was one of the rare occasions this season where they could fully demonstrate their worth, further reinforcing Capello's belief that 'their foundation is good' and that they must build their future on that.

Whatever areas they choose to strengthen, the 78-year-old stressed that it is important for Milan to identify players who can provide 'strong guarantees'.

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"The key to the Milan of the future is one: bringing in two or three top-level players who can really make a difference," Capello wrote in a column for La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"There is no need for a total revolution, with eight or ten transfers. But some of them, yes, and wherever they come from will be good: whether it is a great central midfielder, another very strong midfielder, a right-back or a winger who can have an impact.

"Not experiments, but players who already offer solid guarantees. The foundation is good, and that's what's also frustrating: if the Milan we saw in the derby is the real one, why did it take so long to emerge?"

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Capello went on to name some specific players the club should keep, perhaps building an even more competitive team around them.

"We need to start with the players already at the club and raise their value," the former coach continued.

"This season, in a Milan that has been in general confusion, Reijnders, Pulisic and I would say also Fofana have stood out. None of the others have performed like the two nights before – they have. They form a solid base. I have followed Reijnders closely between Milan and the Netherlands. You could say he was a player of another level, especially for the personality he has."

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"I admit, however, I didn't expect fifteen goals this season. He has a very strong sense of positioning. And together with Fofana, they form a great duo. I saw great determination in Pavlovic and I wonder: why was Tomori pushed to the margins? It surprises me to see today that he wasn't considered before."

"I saw a Leao who was finally hungry: with his physical strength, if he played at 80% of his potential, he would be unstoppable – that should be his standard. But too often, he limits himself to 40%.

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"Beyond that, Maignan is back, and I like him; it's hard to find someone better without spending a lot of money. I have no doubt, I would keep him. Pulisic is another player who brings consistency and quality, fitting perfectly into Milan. He is one of those players who has a guaranteed 6.5 rating, and sometimes even a 7 or higher. I always ask myself: who could I find better than him?", continued Capello.

In another recent column for La Gazzetta dello Sport, Capello also noted that simply questioning Sergio Conceiçao for not being able to achieve Champions League qualification would be 'misleading'. /Telegraph/