Previously of Atlético-MG, Grêmio and Botafogo, Rafael Marques now plies his trade at Hellas Verona, who AC Milan will face this Sunday.
Having completed the transformation from Botafogo player to AC Milan coach, Clarence Seedorf will now turn his attention to the game against Hellas Verona this weekend. On the other team will be another veteran known to the Botafogo fans: the centre-back Rafael Marques. He will be hoping to ruin Seedorf’s first game in charge of the Italian giants.
“I hope that we rain on Seedorf’s parade. It will be a very difficult game. We will be away from home and the Milan fans are delighted to have Seedorf back,” explained the defender who won the Carioca Championship with Botafogo in 2006 as well as the Copa Libertadores with Atlético-MG last year.
Now at Hellas Verona, the 30-year-old may not be enjoying the same level of success as he did in Brazil, but he remains content. Recently promoted back into Serie A, the Verona club are currently in sixth position and only ten points from a Champions League spot.
“We will have to try and play on the counter-attack and explore the spaces we can. We’re higher than Milan in the table but it’s not normal to see them where they are for long. They are desperate to turn their season around.”
“Kaká e Robinho are excellent, international-level. They are quick and clever. We cannot afford them any space. Our plan is to close down the space as much as possible and to try and disrupt their game. We will have to concentrate throughout the game,” concluded Rafael Marques.
