The National Olympic Stadium in Tokyo, 17 December 1989
17th December 1989
Marco van Basten's interview was almost in Milanese dialect on the eve of the final in Tokyo between AC Milan and Nacional Medellín. After a very tactical game at the Olympic Stadium in the Japanese capital, the teams went long into extra time and penalties seemed imminent. However, up stepped Chicco Evani with a pinpoint free kick to win two trophies: the Intercontinental Cup and the Toyota Cup. After the final, President Berlusconi wrote a letter that has since become etched in history: "This image of AC Milan as European and World Champion 90 years since its foundation is something that arouses so many childhood memories within me."
He continued: "In the moment of triumph, of celebration, of AC Milan’s current international prestige, allow me, dear old AC Milan, to take pride in having contributed to making you great and famous. Let me dedicate this victory, which the Rossoneri champions on the pitch wanted to dedicate to me, to those who consoled and encouraged me in the most difficult times." It went on: "Whoever believes, wins. You’ll see, we’ll do it. We have done it. Tomorrow we’ll dream of other goals, invent other challenges and seek other victories. May they make us realise what is good, strong and true in us, in all of us who have shared this adventure and woven our lives into a dream called AC Milan."
