Montolivo: “No more slip ups, we have to win every game”

RICCARDO MONTOLIVO is happy to have scored the winning goal and is looking ahead for the final games of the year.

The 2013/2014 season will not be remembered fondly by Milan but they can finish it on a good note with a Europa League finish as they’ve moved to 8th place following the win over Catania last night, just five points shy from Inter in fifth place.

It was Milan’s 4th consecutive Serie A victory and even though the boys of Clarence Seedorf did not look too good on Sunday at Stadio San Siro, they managed to take the three points thanks to a great shot of Montolivo from 30-meters.

Game recap: Milan 1-0 Catania
Highlights: Milan 1-0 Catania

“It’s a vital goal and we can’t afford any more slip ups this season, we have to win every game. It’ll be tough but we can do it,” Riccardo Montolivo told Milan Channel after the game. “I needed that goal and I’m happy it was a decisive one. They’re on the bottom of the table but it’s strange to say that as they’re a good side. They caused us problems but we did well.

“We believed in this comeback and day by day the work we’re doing is paying off. be tough against Livorno though but we have to go for the win. The Europa League is still distant, we can’t be making calculations and we have to think only about ourselves. I’m very happy about the goal and I hope to get another against Livorno. We played well on Sunday but they made themselves dangerous as well. We have to improve defensively. Christian Abbiati made some great saves.

“We have to improve but we showed that well fight until the end. Stephan El Shaarawy? He is very happy to be going to the training camp with Italy and we’re happy for him as well. It’s been an unlucky time for him. We hope this win psyches him up to get back into training with us.” Adriano Galliani said yesterday that El Shaarawy could be back against Inter on 4th of May.

Daniele Bonera is often criticized, especially by the fans, but he has done well recently in the right back position and got 6/10 from La Gazzetta dello Sport for his performance against Catania yesterday (Montolivo is their MOTM with 7/10).

“We’re keeping a good tempo even against tough opponents,” said Bonera. “Catania have good individuals and caused us problems at times. As a team we’re succeeding in a  run of games that makes us all focus very hard and sometimes we let the level of tension drop a bit. We’ve to look to win all matches from here to the derby but if we don’t beat Livorno all of this could count for nothing. We’re thinking about ourselves and then we’ll see what shape we’re in when we come to the derby.

“I do what I can out on the wing, obviously with my characteristics, I’m better as a defender. We’re defending well and we know that sooner or later we’re going to score. Mario Balotelli? There’s a  great relationship between Balotelli and I.”