Milan Coach Cristian Brocchi praises Mario Balotelli’s “positive” attitude, but he “needs a goal”.
The striker, who is on loan from Liverpool, hasn’t scored a Serie A goal since returning from a hernia injury, with his last League strike coming against Udinese in September.
“His attitude has always been positive, unfortunately he hasn’t managed to score,” Brocchi told reporters in his Press conference ahead of the Roma game.
Milan Coach Cristian Brocchi praises Mario Balotelli’s “positive” attitude, but he “needs a goal”.
The striker, who is on loan from Liverpool, hasn’t scored a Serie A goal since returning from a hernia injury, with his last League strike coming against Udinese in September.
“His attitude has always been positive, unfortunately he hasn’t managed to score,” Brocchi told reporters in his Press conference ahead of the Roma game.
“If he plays well and doesn’t score it doesn’t detract from his game. Mario needs to get a goal.
“Will he play the Coppa Italia final? I haven’t decided anything in view of the final. I have several players available, and I have clear ideas about which players can give me guarantees.
“If I start with Balotelli or Luiz Adriano it means it’s because I think they can give me something.”
Brocchi is only under contract until the end of the season, would he see it as a betrayal if he were to be replaced?
“Absolutely not. President [Silvio] Berlusconi chose me because he liked me. He didn’t choose me because of my place in the history of Milan, but because he liked my work.
“When a club wants to make plans for the future they must be clear. At the moment Berlusconi has clear ideas about me and my approach.
“If he changes his mind I’ll still be grateful, because what they [the club] gave to me for nine years and for these past days is something important.
“There are values in life, and I thank him for everything he’s given me.”
Even with a win tomorrow the Rossoneri won’t be guaranteed Europa League football, as Sassuolo will take sixth if they beat Inter, needing the Diavolo needing to win the Coppa Italia.
“I’m disappointed,” Brocchi admitted.
“But even in this, although some of it comes down to us, there have been so many unfortunate things, like Sassuolo taking nine points from their last three games, that’s something that’s not inconsequential to our journey.
“We’ve taken eight points from five games, it’s not much, but two more would have been enough [to have it in our hands].
“My history is that I’ve always wanted to win, that’s always been my character and my personality. So I’m focused on winning. Then it’s normal that there are incidents and situations outside your control.
“You can always do more, but I think my staff and I have done all we could at this time. Sometimes a bit of luck can help too.
“I expect a bit more from four or five players: an active attitude and the desire to convey a will to win to the whole group.
“They know who they are, because I’ve spoken to them. That doesn’t mean I don’t rate them, on the contrary, if I’m asking them for those things it’s because I think they can give me them.”