Monto: “Being captain doesn’t secure a place in the XI”, De Jong: “Milan have many captains, we must win”

Nigel De Jong and Riccardo Montolivo again sat alongside Sinisa Mihajlovic in the press conference to talk ahead of this weekend’s match.

Milan will play their Matchday 2 match against Empoli tomorrow at 20:45 CET at Stadio San Siro and once again, De Jong will player from the start – with the captain armband – while Montolivo will sit on the bench waiting for his chance.

Montolivo and De Jong were with coach Mihajlovic for the press conference today and also spoke about the captaincy issue.

“We have worked hard this week. We must win at home to Empoli and we want these 3 points,” De Jong said.

“During pre-season we worked well but we still have lots to do this season. We gave a good performance versus Perugia (a Coppa Italia match they won 2-0), but we now have to do the same against all of the others.

“The armband? There are lots of players with experience in the changing room, there are many captains like Montolivo and Abbiati. The one with the captain’s armband out on the pitch is the skipper. I take my responsibilities when I go to the field.

“Seasonal objectives? We hope that we can finish amongst the top-three in Serie A, but we always take things one match at a time.” Milan are currently in 19th place but it’s of course after only one match.

“I’ve been penalized slightly by the coach’s choices in the past 2 matches, but individual interests come after the interests of the team,” Montolivo told the reporters at Milanello.

“The rumours? I don’t like to listen to the rumours. I always give my best, the coach rates me and that is what is important for me. I, like the others that aren’t playing, am trying to convince the coach to select me. Being the captain doesn’t mean that you have a place secured on the pitch.

“The national team? It’s is certainly an objective I have in mind, but first I must and have to play well for Milan. Only if I do well at Milan I’ll return to the national team?”