Before starting the article, let’s refer to a number. In 196 matches that Maldini and Baresi played in a center-back pair (because Maldini mainly played on the left wing), AC Milan conceded only ... 23 goals. That number says it all.

The core values of the team are built from the foundation of crafts. Only solid rear blocks can the team grow. The reason why AC Milan dominated Serie A and Europe in the late 80s and early 90s was not in the flying Dutch trio (Ruud Gullit, Marco van Basten and Frank Rijkaard) but in the core. core, that is too firm crafts.

Just read the names like Baresi, Costacurta, Maldini and Mauro Tassotti, all the attacking goods at any time must be bored, not just that moment.

AC Milan had a long unbeaten sequence from 1991 to 1993 (unbeaten all season 1992/93), a total of 58 matches thanks to that famous defensive background. In the 1992/93 season, they conceded only 21 goals. Previously, in the 1987/88 season, the club had only collected the ball 14 times during the season. In 1993/94, they only allowed the opponent to score 15 goals.

In the first 4 years of the 90s, they lost less than 10 matches in Serie A. And if calculated further, in 136 matches in all competitions, they only failed ... 11 matches. Which means, every 12 matches the Rossoneri knows the smell of defeat.

The reason to give the numbers at the beginning of the article to see how terrible AC Milan at that stage. In particular, the pair Baresi, Maldini are compared to the "beauties and beasts" are the typical figures in that great generation. Later, they are also the people that AC Milan hung the shirt number (number 6 and number 3).

Those are devoted people. They spent their entire career putting on a Red-Black shirt. They are more professional people than anyone. But it is the appearance, the opposite personality that helps them complement each other perfectly on the football field.

Maldini owns the look of the romantic

Maldini possesses the appearance of a romantic, a true Italian pla‌ּyboy. He possesses a tall appearance, tanned skin of the Mediterranean Sea and a smile that can make any girl "crazy" right from the first meeting. And indeed, if not a famous football player, Maldini could have been a super model or famous actor.

On the pitch, Maldini reminded people of an elegant image. It was also the style of many Italian defenders at that time and later (including Nesta). The pomp of Maldini is reflected in the art of defense. Even the tackling phase of this famous back-back is full of poetry.

Maldini is also a talking son. His father, Cesare Maldini, was also a legend of AC Milan as a player and coach. Because of that, the young Paolo has been in AC Milan’s blood since he was a child. And that love, just keep growing. Until he turned 40, people still see Paolo Maldini because of that shirt color.

But if Maldini was like a statue of the Go‌d Adonis (to the Go‌d of love, Aphrodite, who had fallen in love with him since he was a child), Baresi possessed a rugged appearance, like a real monster.

Even so, whether we like it or not, we have to admit he is one of the greatest center-backs in world football. In an interview with the Daily Mail in 2015, former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Carragher once said: “It is just a short skinny player but possesses unbeatable power. He can dance very high. The way he plays is the role model of everyone. Although he is not a speaker, Baresi is always inspired by the way he is devoted.

In the same interview, Jamie Carragher emphasized that Baresi is his role model as many generations later learn. It is a form of central defender who has the ability to control the ball very well.

Even Maldini actually idolized Baresi: “Baresi only weighs 70kg but he is very fast. Let me tell you this, when he makes a tackle, it is very powerful. ”

Baresi has a rough appearance and is a reliable leader

Baresi joined AC Milan in 1977 and at the age of 22, he took on a great responsibility, being the captain of one of the greatest clubs in the world. The leadership qualities of Baresi are shown early on. However, according to Maldini, this is not a screaming captain but a person who makes everyone admire, because of the discipline and the spirit of protection to the end.

And despite possessing a rugged appearance, gameplay is "aggressive" but as Carragher mentioned above, Baresi is the one who has the ability to launch attacks and read situations very well. Many Rossoneri attacks were launched by this veteran who is only 1.76 meters tall. And even in a quiet role, he always knows how to be the focus. The Italian newspaper once likened Baresi to a giant, as the guiding light of AC Milan.

In fact, Maldini debuted for the club eight years after Baresi wore AC Milan. The time when Maldini became famous was also when Baresi was over 30. In his career, Maldini also did not have many opportunities to play alongside the center-back man (196 games). The rest, most of them play as left-back.

At the time, Baresi joined Costacurta in a center-back position. Maldini on the left, Mauro Tassotti on the right. Together they form one of the best quartet of football history.

But Maldini also showed the full quality of the center-back. His gallant play, the ability to read the game, the good tackling, enabled him to play well in both roles. Baresi was the one who led Maldini to play center-back, so they together created a wall of solidification ever.

Baresi helped Maldini gradually overcome his weakness. And then, those young and old center-backs complement each other to perfection. Maldini progressed so quickly that they compared Baresi’s mentorship as "having Albert Einstein as a physics teacher at the school".

To the extent, they become the standard of defense later. During his time at Chelsea, Coach Ancelotti praised Terry: “Terry has a similarity to Baresi or Maldini in terms of character and leadership. I am very fortunate to work with such people. ”

The AC Milan squad once dominated Serie A and Europe

Sir Alex Ferguson also approached to bring Maldini to Man Utd but was helpless against this player’s loyalty. But the Scottish tactician also praised the defender, whom he appreciated. “I watched Bayern Munich powerless against AC Milan in the Champions League quarter-finals. Indeed, it is a defensive art play and Maldini is the one who controls it. That is a great player ”.

And in the relationship between Baresi and Maldini, one also sees inheritance. After Baresi retired in 1997, the captain’s armband was handed back to junior Maldini. In honor of the dedication of the two players, AC Milan decided to hang the No. 6 and No. 3 shirts for life (except for their children to wear).

For a club, owning an excellent defender is lucky but AC Milan has up to 2 people. Together they played the ball and formed the link between the Rossoneri history. They created a fire that lit the sky of faith. To the extent, it is believed, just owning this center-back pair, AC Milan won the title as easy as eating candy.

End of the article with the comment of Thesefootballtimes: “Baresi and Maldini are like fire. It illuminates the beliefs of generations to come. It is not fair for the attackers when facing this pair of central defenders. They have created a defensive beauty and even the standard for the defenders later.

The article references Thefootballtimes newspaper so readers can better understand the pair of famous defenders of Italian football.