AC Milan's 'Mind Room': The story behind an innovative psychology lab
Roberto Baggio missed the crucial penalty as Brazil beat Italy to the 1994 World Cup
Backed by Silvio Berlusconi and hailed by a succession of Milan managers from Arrigo Sacchi to Carlo Ancelotti, the Mind Room helped underpin an unprecedented run of success as the Rossoneri won 21 major trophies during the 23 years it was operational from 1986. "It wasn't a technical problem or a physical problem; I was very fit and very well-trained. Eventually, a friend of mine said to me: 'Is it a mental problem?'" recalled Demichelis on the"I realised that I had trained with Japanese people for so long they were no longer just instructors or masters to me. They were my heroes. Psychologically, you cannot defeat your heroes. It was self-sabotage.
After a successful start at the club that saw him win the backing of manager Arrigo Sacchi, Demichelis' services were in high demand. Capitalising on the opportunity, he secured investment for a bespoke psychology laboratory based at Milanello, the club's training ground. The Mind Room was born. The readings enabled him to quantify conditions such as post-game 'tightness' and take proportionate remedial action, including carefully calibrated breathing training. In doing so, the Mind Room was not only aiding physical recovery and performance, but also supporting the development of psychological characteristics such as confidence.
While the concept sounds basic, reducing the time it takes for players to respond to rapidly changing on-pitch situations - even by a few tenths of a second - was seen as yet another way in which Milan could extend the careers of stalwarts such as Alessandro Costacurta and Paolo Maldini, who played until they were 41.
Demichelis explains: "The general director of the Milan Lab said to him, 'Wow, you're 31, but fitness-wise you're 26. Your biological age is much, much younger.' According to Demichelis, the methods he helped to introduce contributed to Milan reducing soft tissue injuries by 91% during his time at the club. It is a striking statistic made possible in part by the support the Mind Room received at both boardroom and managerial levels.
"The Mind Room was breaking new ground in terms of its integration into the training environment," says Jones, who has worked with a number of football clubs.
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