Gennaro Gattuso reveals he decided to leave Milan “before the game with Sampdoria” and regrets being too honest with the media.
The tactician parted company with the club by mutual consent this week, giving up on 90 per cent of the salary he’d be owed in order to ensure his staff were paid through to the end of their contracts.
Gennaro Gattuso reveals he decided to leave Milan “before the game with Sampdoria” and regrets being too honest with the media.
The tactician parted company with the club by mutual consent this week, giving up on 90 per cent of the salary he’d be owed in order to ensure his staff were paid through to the end of their contracts.
“It was an incredible journey at Milan, both as a player and a Coach, so I owe a lot to this club. I made this decision because it was right that we take separate paths at that moment. They gave me the opportunity to train these great players for 18 months,” Gattuso told Sport Mediaset.
“This group gave everything it had. Perhaps I let them down, as in the moment when we should’ve killed off the competition for the top four, we were unable to do it. When results don’t arrive, the responsibility always falls on the Coach.
“In any case, I had already decided to leave Milan, whether we qualified for the Champions League or not. I’d made the decision before the Sampdoria game.
“Some of my comments before that match, saying I would speak out in around two months, hit the headlines and it’s true that I was referring to that decision. In this world, it’s not good to be too ‘real’, too direct. It’s what I’m like and I have to improve in that sense if I want to be a professional Coach.”
Milan lost 1-0 to Samp on March 30, but the real blow had been the 3-2 defeat to rivals Inter on March 17.
Since the Derby della Madonnina setback, the Rossoneri had gone on a slide down the standings with just five points in seven rounds.
As he had decided he’d be leaving Milan some time ago, has Gattuso thought about his future?
“I do want to get straight back to work. It’s not just me, as with all my staff, there are 10 of us in total. I like to share everything I do with them, so before making any decision, I’ll have to talk it over with them too.
“I don’t know who the new Milan Coach will be, but the club is in good hands with some great professionals and solid foundations. They will make the right choice.”