Speaking to Football Presse, Donati explained: “During a career there are positive moments and negative moments. The important thing is to move on quickly from both — especially the bad ones, but also the good ones. Because there is always something new the next day.”
He added: “If you keep thinking about what happened before, you fall behind. You always have to face the next day trying to do better — even when things go well.”
Reflecting on his own journey, Donati admitted early success came with challenges. “At the beginning it was very beautiful — I arrived in Serie A very young and then went straight to Milan,” he said. “But then there were difficult years because I thought I had made it. I lost focus. I wasn’t ready mentally.”
“I dropped, then I had to climb back up again,” he continued. “You have to learn from everything — especially the difficult moments — to improve and be ready next time.”
Donati also played under elite coaches including Carlo Ancelotti, Gian Piero Gasperini and Giampiero Ventura, experiences that shaped his own coaching philosophy.
“Every coach has different characteristics,” he said. “Today football is not just tactics — it’s management, psychology, everything.”
He added: “From a tactical point of view, Ventura and Gasperini helped me understand why and how things are done. Even when results didn’t come, like at Palermo with Gasperini, we played incredible football. Sometimes, though, good football doesn’t bring results.”
A spell in Scotland proved transformative, particularly with Celtic. “It was probably the best experience of my career,” Donati said. “Celtic Park, especially on European nights, is something magical. Everyone says it — not just me.”
He added: “In Scotland there is a purity in football. Players give everything. There is less simulation, less acting — it’s more real.”
Donati believes that mentality explains why Scottish players are increasingly succeeding abroad. “They go at 100 miles per hour,” he said. “If you combine that intensity with quality, they can perform anywhere — in Italy, England, anywhere. Modern football is about intensity.”
Returning to Italy, Donati praised the long-term growth of Atalanta, where he developed as a player. “The growth started many years ago,” he said. “When you have organisation, structures and good people working from youth level, results are more likely.”
He also highlighted the impact of Giacomo Raspadori, adding: “He is an Atalanta-type player — he works hard, has quality, and can be very important.”
On AC Milan today, Donati pointed to the pragmatic influence of Massimiliano Allegri. “They focus less on aesthetics and more on results,” he said. “If they have to defend deep, they do it. Allegri has won like this before.”
His own time at Milan, however, came too early. “I was 20, training with players like Maldini, Shevchenko, Gattuso,” he said. “Mentally I wasn’t ready. It blocked me a little — and I regret that, because it’s one of the biggest clubs in the world.”
Donati also spoke about the passion of clubs like Bari and Palermo, now in Serie B. “They are important cities with huge support,” he said. “That’s the beauty of football — 50,000 or 60,000 fans. I hope they return to Serie A.”
On his coaching career, Donati highlighted both challenges and rewards. “Even when things don’t go well, I try to take the positives,” he said. “Of course, winning is special — but you have to appreciate everything in this job.”
He also revealed a desire to work abroad again after a spell in Greece. “We played beautiful football there,” he said. “Sometimes you get compliments without results — it’s strange, but interesting. Abroad, football can be appreciated differently.”
Discussing the current Serie A season, Donati singled out Como 1907. “They are doing things properly,” he said. “Spending money doesn’t guarantee success — but they are structured and serious.”
On the international stage, Donati backed Gennaro Gattuso to lead the Italy national football team forward. “He has brought back passion,” he said. “Now everything depends on World Cup qualification. After missing out twice, it would be very bad not to go again.”
Looking ahead, Donati’s focus is clear. “My plan is to get back into coaching as soon as possible,” he said. “That’s what I love most — and I hope it happens again soon.”