Ambrosini: “Start over with unity and hard work”

MASSIMO AMBROSINI wouldn’t rule out an exit next year and is confident Milan can do well.

Milan Capitan Massimo Ambrosini is the only player left in the squad that took part in the Champions League win in 2007 against Liverpool as all the others have either left or retired from the game already.

Ambrosini signed a one-year deal and will continue to be the captain of Milan also next year. He says next season may be his last in red & black and reveals he has huge expectations from Stephan El Shaarawy.

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Nocerino: “Next year is an important one”

“Antonio Nocerino bothers me every day about the #23 shirt, but I will never give it to him. Or rather; he will get it next season,” Ambrosini told La Gazzetta dello Sportabout Nocerino who has just been given the #8 shirt. “If I’ll leave Milan next year? I’ve been signing 1-year contracts for the last 5 years, so who knows?

“A few months ago I would never have imagined so many players to leave Milan. If I was surprised about so many players leaving Milan at once? I was surprised by the way it happened. Gattuso and Nesta made their decision to leave Milan right at the final moment. How do I feel in the locker room with the senators? The worst moment was during the week where I realized that the senators were leaving. Now I feel fine.

“Gattuso’s declarations (about chaos in the dressing room last season)? We were a bit hurt by them. What happens in the changing room should remain private. These are good customs to respect. My relationship with Coach Allegri is like it was before. And I don’t see why these recent events should change anything.”

Milan have brought a few new players as many have left and it’s still unclear whether Massimo Ambrosini – who will start from the bench against Olimpia today – will be a regular in the eleven or on the bench.

“The new players? They seem like good guys. But joining Milan isn’t easy. We need to give them time to settle,” Ambro added. “I still like playing the left mezz’ala position (left box-to-box midfielder), but Milan don’t see me in that role anymore. And then you have all the youngsters who run a lot, so… Riccardo Montolivo can do a very good job in the left mezz’ala role. He’s dynamic and has the right temperament.

“There’s a lot of skepticism about us. In my opinion, the squad is calm and united and the players are responsible. The important thing is that the players don’t feel that they have too much responsibility on them, because then the pressure will become intolerable. Pato has had pressure on him ever since he arrived at Milan. I think that Pato will take that leap in quality when he learns how to handle these situations.

“Why aren’t you asking me why so many champions don’t want to leave Milan? It’s because Milan is a place where you feel good. And Ibra trusted this squad. Quarrels with Ibrahimovic? Who said that it’s a bad thing to argue? Sometimes, with certain personalities, it’s better not to let it go and talk back,” he added.

“We have to start over again with the collective; with unity and hard work. We still don’t know what the final Milan will look like. There’s still time before August 31st. We’ll see what happens. Everyone would like it if Kakà came back. Kakà is one of those who left Milan, despite still having some unfinished things to do. 

“Nobody had any problems with Sheva when he returned to Milan. Kakà is a great player who still has a lot to give. In my opinion it doesn’t seem like he has any physical problems. Kakà is welcome here at Milan. Kakà as the regista (suggested by GdS in Friday’s edition)? That seems unworkable to me. You don’t invent anything in football. And Kakà won the Champions League while playing as a second striker.

“The nouveau riche (new rich clubs) in football? Squads are created. It took Man. City a year to win the EPL title. We’ll see what PSG will do. They’re an excellent team on paper. We had a great opportunity against Barça last season. If it’ll happen again? I don’t know. Barça are still the strongest along with Real Madrid.

“The young people? De Sciglio is a good guy. He will make it at this level. It’s impossible that he will get big-headed. I hope that El Shaarawy scores at least 15 goals this season. If he doesn’t, then I will cut his hair. If El Shaarawy scores 7 goals before Christmas, then I will pay for his vacation,” Max said. “This squad has the possibility to show what it can do, now that Ibra, who resolved many things, isn’t here anymore.

The midfielder, who will be playing his 16th season with Milan’s colours concluded: “What I want to achieve before I give the #23 to Nocerino? Is it too much to say that I want to win the Champions League?”