Gattuso: “There’s no point in getting upset”

There couldn’t have been a more bitter debut for new coach Gennaro Gattuso. AC Milan suffer a late draw against Benevento and lose 2 precious points.

THERE IS NO CONSOLATION
We have been working together for a week and we have changed some things. I need time to make the team play like I would like. There are no consolations or excuses. We didn’t always play well but we tried to win until the end. Benevento did not deserve to lose in their last five games and against us they scored in the last second. They made their own luck.

STILL A LONG WAY TO GO
I get very involved in every game, and I really wanted it to win this one. The changes I made? We were not keeping possession of the ball with our midfielders, the only one who was doing the job was Kessie. I wanted to bring the win home and that’s why I subbed-in a defender. I don’t think they troubled us until the 2-2. There is still a long way to go.

THE BRIGHT SIDE?
The hard work during the week, the team spirit and the desire I have seen. Work pays off so we have to remain together in this moment, there is no point in getting upset. I have to be the first to show conviction and serenity. No one is pleased but there are still many matches to be played. We are not giving the impression that we are doing things with grit and our heads clear. A win today would have given us confidence, unfortunately we didn’t, but we have to continue improving without giving up. If we hadn’t conceded Brignoli’s goal, we would be talking about a different spirit shown by the team. This is our new starting point.

MIND AND FEAR
We cleared the ball away often towards the end. Our opponents manage to trouble us because we started playing with fear and we definitely have to improve in this. We stop playing completely in the last 7-8 minutes of the game. It’s all psychological, it begins with the fear to lose the game”.

Also our captain Leonardo Bonucci spoke after the match. These were his words to Milan TV: “We are not at all happy, it’s frustrating not to bring home the three points in such a complicated and important moment of the season, after changing coaches. The win could have given us a boost, instead, we are talking again about the things we are lacking. We need to leave this behind and look forward with our heads up, always trying to improve. We have what it needs to bounce back”. Improvements: “We need to raise our game, in defence, when keeping possession of the ball, in being more assertive. We need to keep working on the pitch to be aware of our strengths”. Mentality: “I’ve always looked ahead in my careers. You can only achieve your goals through desire and sacrifice, and being always there for your teammates. If we all reason this way, we will achieve our goals. Judging by how their second goal came, I would say we can only improve from now on”.


Read here Primavera, results and standings after the 11th round


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