The old days were much more innocent. But at the same time, they were much wilder than today. As AC Milan travelled to Naples for their Champions League quarter-final clash with Napoli, they are ready for all sorts of unpleasantries: insults, vile chants, and fireworks in front of their hotel to keep them from sleeping. But Milan players probably won’t fear the trip. Unlike the one in Diego Maradona’s Napoli heyday.Ruud Gullit @ AC Milan 🔴⚫️pic.twitter.com/p42wteuFkO— My Greatest 11 (@MyGreatest11) September 1, 2021 One of the biggest legends of the red and blacks, Dutch superstar Ruud Gullit remembered the day from the late eighties when Serie A was by far the strongest national championship in the world – and winning or losing was a matter of life and death. The member of the Dutch trio alongside Frank Rijkaard and Marco van Basten, Gullit was shocked by the trip to Naples on 1 May 1988. It was a crucial league game against Napoli that featured the GOAT himself, Diego Armando Maradona. ##NAJAVA_MECA_7190505##Such was the tension surrounding the match that Milan feared that someone would temper with their food if they decided to eat in Naples. So they brought all the food and the cook with them. Gullit couldn’t believe his eyes.”I remember it well because we took two private planes to Naples, and I wasn’t sure why. When we got to the hotel, it was chaos, we were in the top floor and there were people screaming at us from below. That was when I realised the extra plane was full of security officers! They were afraid someone would put something in our food, so we were at the top floor, nobody was allowed up. Our club chef, Michele, did his work and meanwhile these security agents were passing along our plates so nobody from the hotel staff could get near them.”📽️ #Memories 1988 AC Milan 🆚 NapoliAC Milan beats Diego Maradona’s Napoli 3-2, two goals by Virdis and one by @MarcoVanBastenpic.twitter.com/O6ivROIMCk— Milan Posts (@MilanPosts) December 19, 2021 Napoli’s poor form of late saw them lose to Milan at home in the league, lose away in the first leg of the UCL tie and also draw 0-0 at home against relegation candidates Hellas Verona. They will have to summon all their quality and ideas to break down Milan, the team which has 22 points fewer in the Serie A. However, the Champions League has nothing to do with points and tables. It’s a knockout game, so anything can happen. Except food poisoning, of course.UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUEQuarter-final, second legTuesday22.00: (2.95) Chelsea (3.45) Real Madrid (2.50) /first leg: 0-2/22.00: (1.80) Napoli (3.60) Milan (5.10) /first leg: 0-1/Wednesday22.00: (2.25) Inter (3.50) Benfica (3.40) /first leg: 2-0/22.00: (2.85) Bayern (3.60) Man.City (2.55) /first leg: 0-3/***odds are subject to change
