Riccardo Montolivo says Milan did well to win a point as they realized it was a match they couldn’t beat Inter.
The Rossoneri stepped on the pitch of the San Siro yesterday knowing they have to win in the Derby della Madonnina order to keep their Champions League alive.
But instead of playing with fire and desire to win, they played poorly for large spells of the match, and were incredibly lucky Mauro Icardi had one his worst career games, or else they would have easily lost.
“In terms of points, Inter deserved more,” Montolivo, who replaced the suspended Lucas Biglia in the XI and was one of the worst on the pitch, told Premium Sport. “We were wrong too. In games like these, in which you understand that you cannot win, the important thing is not to lose.
“The misses of Icardi [the Argentine has scored 24 goals this season]? It rarely happens that someone like Icardi misses such goals, we were very lucky. Inter were very neat and tight in the defensive phase and we found few spaces. Technically, we made more mistakes than usual. My performance? I tried to give my best, it’s not easy to play a little and be ready, I gave my best and I’m satisfied.
“The Champions League? Recovering eight points in eight games is not easy but I don’t understand why we shouldn’t believe in it. Now we plan on winning on Sunday against Sassuolo.”
Speaking to Sky, the midfielder, who was stripped of his captaincy at the start of the season, added: “I think that Inter deserved something more than us, the occasions they failed to score were great but when a team understands that it can’t win, it’s important to not lose. The team reacted well without giving up on trying to score. We are sorry because we needed the three points.
“Gattuso? I think the work of the coach has been incredible, we have improved from all points of view, physically, in our cohesion and tactically. He has created great cohesion among us, we must only give him great compliments. The value of the team? We we’ve seen from Christmas onwards has been important but it’s not enough because the season is played from September If we started like we’re doing now we would’ve been there to play for the Champions League.”
Montolivo also had an interview with MilanTV: “If we were dominated by Inter? No, that seems excessive. We are disappointed because the three points were very important. However, when we realized that it was not going to be possible to win, we did great to secure the point.
“From a physical and emotional standpoint, the game at the Allianz Stadium took away a lot of energy from us, but this can’t be an excuse. We were not technically solid on Wednesday and we gave them too much initiative. Now we must focus on Sassuolo. The defense? There is important solidity, this attitude leads us to not conceding the goal. It means that we are working well.
“We have to keep an eye on the teams behind us and those in front of us. The attack? The whole team must give something more, our strikers are not guilty. In the match against Sassuolo we’ll score.”
Monty! This all you have to say after such abysmal performance and some people still believe that you should start ahead of Loca! Pathetic. Just leave already
And that is why you are the worst captain in MIlan history. And to think that some people were bitching in summer when Montolivo got stripped of his armband. He is a 0 of a character and 1/2 of a player. Tbh I never seen a player that got more chances to prove than him and failed. So many years in Milan, it is time to go, Montolivo.
How gattuso chose him to play instead of loca is just beyond me!!
BONavEturA 2.0 a player nobody wants yet he is always in the first team, we had this once in the past now its just with some extra letter on its name.
last season bona had 9 goals and 10 assist, and you compare him to montolivo who dont even made that during his entire time at milan. That is 5 years. Bona did in one year. Give the guy a break, we all know he lacks vision and end product in front of goal, but he sure can step up from time to time.
Few years ago, i hoped that Cristante would be promoted as our starting XI but the management sold him to Benfica and preferred to keep you. Tbh, I saw winning mentality and Ambrossini’s fighting spirit in Cristante.
Now we are in the risk of loosing Locatelli. Beware of another disappoinment, guys.
This is very emotional for me, thanks if you read until the end. “it’s not easy to play a little and be ready, I gave my best and I’m satisfied” Like some here can tell, i’m a Monty fan; but the guy is a bitch, and I see why Gattuso make him rot in bench, he is complaining his lack of time? sure biglia isn’t a great upgrade, and surely monty is a lot better in the defensive role, but Monty when u are on the bench that’s when u show ur desire and anger, just look at Cutrone. I… Read more »
Yes he was a good player before the injuries, never sensational but good. He is now 33 years old and have lacked fitness for 1.5 years. He will never get back to his old self, There is only so much the body can do at that age, time for him to step down from a big club and make space for the likes of Locatelli.
Montolivo was always better in the mazzela role compared to ragista. only in milan he was a ragista. Prandelli even used him in attacking midfield.
Yes you’re right, hope he do better and retire at good moment, not after another injury that would be so disappointing