FORZA UNDER 15!

"Character, grit, determination: I’m proud of every one of you. Now let's go to Rimini and win it!" Head Coach Lorenzo Cresta affectionately patted each of his players on the head as he congratulated them on a victory that secured AC Milan Under-15s a place in the Scudetto final. A commanding 3-0 home win over Fiorentina overturned the 3-2 defeat suffered in the first leg. Even in Florence, despite trailing 2-0 and later 3-1, the Rossoneri refused to let their heads dip, and that same resilience made the memorable afternoon that followed at the PUMA House of Football.

The qualities that are essential to any strong group have been evident in this 2011-born squad throughout the season and emerged once again during the decisive moments of the knockout stage. From the Round of 16 against Udinese (1-1 and 0-0), to the quarter-finals against Juventus (1-1 and 3-0), and finally the two-legged semi-final against Fiorentina, AC Milan’s Under-15s have repeatedly responded under pressure. Courage, unity, technical quality and strong personal values have defined their campaign. Those traits help explain a season that saw the Rossoneri finish top of the regular-season standings with 56 points from 24 matches, enjoy an outstanding spring campaign and consistently find decisive goals during the latter stages of games. Their mantra: believe, resist, persist.

That was the message from Coach Cresta in the days leading up to the semi-final and now, on the eve of the biggest match of the season, his words carry even greater significance: "Reaching the final is an enormous source of pride, the culmination of a journey that began with clear objectives. The Under-15 category is the first competitive level for these players, and many aspects of the experience were new to them. Despite the challenges, we have always given our all. It will be a special match and a very special experience for everyone involved with the team. We are feeling good, and we are ready to try and make a dream come true."

Structure and ambition. Commitment and progress. Only one step remains – the steepest and most challenging of all, but also the most exciting and rewarding. The match is set for Sunday 21 June at 20:00 CEST, when AC Milan will face Empoli at the Stadio Romeo Neri in Rimini. Boys, you have earned this opportunity. Now enjoy it. Carry every last ounce of energy with you on the journey, into the dressing room and onto the pitch. The desire and determination will certainly be there, just as the support of the entire Rossoneri family will be. The club’s youth sector, in particular, will be behind you every step of the way, cheering you on and drawing inspiration from your example. Forza the Under-15s!

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