My intention wasn't to turn this into another huge controversy, especially at a time when every little thing seems to get blown completely out of proportion. Four extra days of vacation aren't some massive scandal in themselves. But with Maignan, I simply expect more because he's not just another player. He's our captain and supposedly one of the leaders of this team.
Mike is someone who likes to make big speeches about Milan and what this club means. He made the club come back twice before finally renewing his contract, he's now one of the highest-paid players in the squad and he wears an armband that should come with higher standards and greater responsibility. So yes, I judge him differently from some random squad player. I think that's perfectly fair.
I already found it extremely disappointing that he apparently couldn't interrupt his vacation for one day to attend Franco Baresi's funeral. Of course players need holidays and of course they need time to recover. But come on. Unless Mike was vacationing on fucking Mars, I'm pretty sure a millionaire footballer – or Milan themselves – could have found a comfortable way to fly the captain of AC Milan to Milan for the funeral of arguably the greatest symbol this club has ever had. Be there. Show your face. Represent the team on an incredibly sad but important day. Then go straight back to your vacation. I thought his absence was very weak, but I didn't make much of it because again, not every little thing needs to become a controversy.
And now it's another four days.
Again, the four days themselves aren't the point. It's the example you're setting. The rest of the squad has just travelled across continents, played friendlies and worked throughout the preseason. Mike hasn't. He could easily spend these days at Milanello getting his body going again, working individually and preparing himself so that when the squad returns, he's ready to train with them and lead them. Even if he isn't going to play a single minute against Manchester United, you're the fucking captain. Be there. Show presence. Lead.
What are four additional vacation days really going to give him over the course of an entire season? Probably absolutely nothing. But the impression created by choosing those four days instead of being there with your new coach and your teammates lasts much longer than the vacation itself.
I'm disappointed with Rabiot too, obviously, but Rabiot has always struck me as a mercenary. He'll fight like hell on the pitch and I respect that, but I've never particularly expected him to be the emotional leader of Milan off it.
With Maignan, I did.
And maybe that's why this disappoints me much more. Because increasingly, I'm starting to wonder whether Mike really is the leader we've made him out to be. And perhaps things like this are just another small glimpse into why this team has looked so desperately short of character when it mattered most – including somehow throwing away what should have been a secure Champions League qualification last season.
