AC Milan legend Franco Baresi says resurgent Chelsea loanee Fikayo Tomori can force his way into England's Euros squad, explains why his side were unlucky to draw Manchester United in the Europa League - and how he would have coped with VAR

• AC Milan legend Franco Baresi spoke exclusively to Sportsmail about the club
• Milan have been drawn against Manchester United in the Europa League last 16
• The first leg will see on-loan AC Milan defender Fikayo Tomori return to England
• Baresi has been impressed by the 23-year-old since he joined from Chelsea
• Baresi is a Milan legend, winning 14 major trophies during a 20-year career there

When it comes to the art of defending there have been few better than Franco Baresi.

Educated and shaped at AC Milan's world-famous Milanello training base, the legendary centre back was an exemplary exponent for catenaccio - the Italian philosophy for a strong emphasis on defence.

From Cesare Maldini to his son Paolo, to Alessandro Costacurta, Alessandro Nesta and Baresi himself there has been a pantheon of world-class defenders shaped by AC Milan over the years.

A one-club man, Baresi was voted their Player of the Century in 1999 as his illustrious and trophy-laden career spun three decades at the San Siro.

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During his 20-year career at AC Milan, Baresi played 719 matches and won 14 major honours with the Italian giants as he formed one of the most miserly backlines ever.

It's safe to say that the 60-year-old knows what it takes to succeed at the heart of the Rossoneri's defence and currently passing his eye test is a young Englishman on loan there.

Fikayo Tomori only joined from Chelsea on January 22 but is flourishing in Italy almost seven weeks into his loan spell. To date, he has made eight appearances in all competitions and hasn't looked back since making his debut as a first-half substitute during their 2-1 Coppa Italia quarter-final loss to bitter rivals Inter Milan.

The 23-year-old is yet to taste defeat when starting for his new club and backed up a fine display in a 2-1 win at top-four rivals Roma in Serie A on February 28 by keeping a clean sheet in a 2-0 triumph at Verona last Sunday.

Tomori's move to AC Milan could be made permanent at the end of the season - with Milan having the option to buy the centre back for £25million. And Baresi has been impressed by his progress, believing the one-cap England international could even force his way into Gareth Southgate's squad for the upcoming European Championship too.

'He is young and has played well so far when he's had the chance,' he told Sportsmail exclusively.

'He is skilful and has great physical attributes. He is still adapting to the Italian league and I think he can only grow as a defender and help us out.

'He needs to be focused on the present and on doing well with AC Milan. The club will decide his future with the player and with Chelsea at the end of the season.

'There is great competition in England, but he is definitely one of the most promising prospects out there. His experience with AC Milan can certainly help him develop as a player.'

Tomori's fortunes at AC Milan contrast significantly to his predicament at Chelsea. He had featured just four times for the Blues this season before his switch to Italy. However, he could remind his parent club what they're missing when he returns to England on Thursday evening.

Milan are on these shores for the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie against Manchester United. The Red Devils go into this encounter as the favourites, buoyed by their superb 2-0 win at 'noisy neighbours' and runaway Premier League leaders Manchester City on Sunday.

United captain Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof kept the likes of Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus and Kevin De Bruyne at bay at the weekend and Baresi knows his team will have to be at their best to breach that defensive duo.

'I have great respect for English football and I do follow the Premier League when possible. It's been growing a lot and has some great players and international coaches.

'I have always liked Virgil van Dijk. He is a great player who has helped Liverpool develop a lot in the past few years. I would have liked to play with him.

'English defences are strong physically and have a great personality. The United defence, with Maguire and Lindelof are a great pair, whom I respect.'

Respect was the underlying theme when Manchester United and AC Milan were paired together.

The European heavyweights will meet over the course of the next week in a two-legged affair that is bound to intrigue any neutral. A fixture once instantly associated with the prestige of a Champions League encounter, it is perhaps telling that this will be played out in the second-string Europa League.

Both teams are not the sides of yesteryear but know this tournament could pave a stepping stone towards rekindled glories. United haven't won a trophy since the 2017 Europa League, while Milan haven't lifted a piece of major silverware since their 2010-11 Serie A title triumph.

Previous clashes between the duo evoke memories of the 1958 European Cup semi-finals or Champions League showdowns in 2005, 2007 and 2010 and for Baresi, it's disappointing that the forthcoming instalment is not happening further down the line in the Europa League.

'We weren't lucky with the draw. We could have played them later in the competition,' he explained over Microsoft Teams at Casa Milan, the club's headquarters.

'It is a shame that one of these two teams will have to bow out of the tournament. We respect United and hope to play two great games because only with two great performances can we get through in the competition.

'It's not easy to predict an outcome. Both clubs have some important players unavailable for the tie. But AC Milan will get there convinced that they can play well. Both teams have won their last game in their respective leagues. We have a great group of young and talented players who can play with confidence and pride.

'We will have to see who will be available. I hope the coach can have as many players available as possible. I think it will be a more balanced tie than what people might be expecting. We have some great quality; players who are fast and can create problems to the United defence but we will need to be good at taking advantage of the opportunities we will have available.'

Milan's attacking edge could be blunted without the presence of talisman and top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The 39-year-old shows no sign of slowing down having plundered 16 goals in 21 Milan appearances this season, but the Italian outfit are likely to be without him due to a muscle injury.

It also denies the Swedish striker a return to Old Trafford, where he scored 29 goals in 53 appearances for United between 2016 and 2018 and played a crucial role in their 2017 League Cup and Europa League victories.

'We know how important Ibra is for us for the confidence he is able to give to his team-mates, so it is obviously a shame he will be out in Manchester,' said Baresi.

'I am sure that whoever is called to replace him will do well, as it has happened already this season. We need to play as a team and give 100 per cent.'

While there will probably be no reunion for Ibrahimovic, there will be for Diogo Dalot. The right back is on a season-long loan from Manchester United but is eligible to play against his parent club, in a strange twist of events.

Dalot has made 20 appearances for Milan to date, starting seven of their eight Europa League games so far, and Baresi has been pleased by the young full back's contributions.

'Dalot has settled well. He played really well against Verona over the weekend and scored. He is happy about this experience and is really helping the team.'

AC Milan and United share a lot of parallels on and off the pitch at present. Aside from Ibrahimovic and Dalot, both sit second in their respective leagues – although it is the former that is truly in a title challenge. AC sit six points behind Inter and Stefano Pioli's side are firmly in the hunt for their first Scudetto in a decade.

As a player, Baresi was accustomed to silverware but he is more measured in his approach as the club's newly-appointed honorary vice-president.

'AC Milan have been doing well this season. Our goal is to qualify for the Champions League, so we are in line with our objective at the moment. However, we are not underestimating the value of the Europa League and will it give our best.'

Best is word that sums up Baresi the player. His 20 years at the San Siro yielded six Serie A titles, three European Cups, three European Super Cups and two Intercontinental Cups alongside a 1982 World Cup triumph with Italy.

Blessed with power, elegance, pace, concentration, Baresi had his No 6 shirt retired by AC Milan in the ultimate tribute to his legacy.

It's been 24 years since he retired and a lot has changed within football since then – namely the introduction of VAR. Baresi has stayed within the sport and even came close to managing Fulham in 2002 but 'it wasn't the right time. There was an offer, but nothing really happened.'

And when posed to him how he would fare in this current era of the sport, Baresi was unequivocal in his response.

'VAR has brought some great benefits to the game. There's less mistakes from referees now. In the past, it was all about the offside, but rules were different back then. We would have adapted surely though.

'Football has changed a lot. Defenders play the ball out more, they start the offence now. They take more risks.

'I would have had fun surely…'

There is no doubting that. Baresi will hope the likes of Tomori can replicate his legendary displays in defence against United as this fallen giant looks to get back on to its knees. 

Time for catenaccio.