Daniele Bonera warns Milan must wait for Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s injury update, but the 3-1 win away to Napoli ‘shows we are on the right track, even if it’s premature’ to discuss the Scudetto.
The former defender had to step in and be the main man on the bench at the Stadio San Paolo, as coach Stefano Pioli, his assistant manager and another four members of staff were all at home self-isolating with COVID-19.
Daniele Bonera warns Milan must wait for Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s injury update, but the 3-1 win away to Napoli ‘shows we are on the right track, even if it’s premature’ to discuss the Scudetto.
The former defender had to step in and be the main man on the bench at the Stadio San Paolo, as coach Stefano Pioli, his assistant manager and another four members of staff were all at home self-isolating with COVID-19.
It was quite a debut, as the Rossoneri earned a 3-1 victory that confirmed their status as Serie A leaders, with an Ibrahimovic brace and Jens Petter Hauge late on.
The first question inevitably was about Ibrahimovic’s injury, as he went off with an ice-pack strapped to his left thigh.
“We don’t have much information right now, it looks like a muscular problem, but we have to wait a few days to see the extent of it,” Bonera told Sky Sport Italia.
“This is evidently an important victory, it shows we are on the right track, but it’s really premature at the eighth round to talk about what might happen in May.
“I spoke to Pioli after the game, he was very happy and got to see all the lads in the dressing room too. We have a great squad at our disposal, we are aware that we’re up there now and want to stay there for as long as possible. This isn’t a flash in the pan, we started this work a long way back.”
Bonera was asked if he had seen any other teams in Serie A right now who are clearly stronger than Milan.
“We’ve learned from the past not to underestimate any opponent. I consider Napoli to be a great team, they were up against another great team in Milan, but there are so many games still to play, it’s too early to say anything.
“There are squads who invested and were built to challenge for the Scudetto. In all honesty, we were not built to win straight away, but it does allow us to grow game by game and that might be an advantage in a way.
“It’s true that we have improved a great deal in the way we prepare for games, the concentration of every player is always high, so these improvements make us look to the future with great ambition.
“That is the future, we are in the present, and nobody has told us we are obliged to win. What we do want is just to keep going and get stronger every day.”