Former AC Milan coach Arrigo Sacchi says Silvio Berlusconi never told him which team had to be picked, but says his motivational skills were unrivalled as the club president celebrates his 80th birthday on Thursday.
Sacchi enjoyed huge success in charge of Milan, winning back-to-back European Cups after catching Berlusconi's eye at the helm of the Parma side which eliminated the Rossoneri from the Coppa Italia in 1987.
His attacking brand of football was revolutionary in Italian football, and contributed to Milan winning "while entertaining" -- something Sacchi says Berlusconi must also take credit for, even if he insists he had no direct influence over team choices.
"We would speak on a daily basis, but he never asked me to play a certain player," Sacchi told Gazzetta dello Sport. "He was very democratic with me and never took away any of my independence.
"When I had difficulties in my first year, he held a speech in front of the team to defend me -- 'This is the coach I have chosen and those who follow him will stay here, those who do not follow him will leave.' It was just 30 seconds long, but it was the most efficient speech I ever heard.
"I never argued with him, or rather he would always listen and never criticise, even the day I left [Marco] van Basten on the bench. The most difficult negotiations we had was for Carlo Ancelotti because the doctor told us he had a knee invalidity, but I asked Berlusconi to buy him anyway, saying we would win the league with him, and in the end he listened to me."
Former Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso was not present for that speech, but heard a similarly inspiring one prior to the 2003 Champions League final, which his side won against Juventus.
"Berlusconi was like doping for me," Pisa coach Gattuso said. "As soon as he arrived at Milanello he would get us all together and give us incredible motivation. I will never forget the speech he gave in Manchester before we faced Juventus in the final.
"Berlusconi has incredible charisma -- he would deliver his message not just with his words, but also with the way he pronounced them. He can come and work as my assistant at Pisa -- he'd help me on the field and would be a great motivator in the dressing room."