Gennaro Gattuso insists Milan should be grateful to Leonardo Bonucci, Gonzalo Higuain has to calm down and they’ll “give Juventus a battle.”
It kicks off on Sunday at 19.30 GMT, click here for a match preview.
The game can be watched live on Eleven Sports in the UK and Ireland, click here for more details.
Gennaro Gattuso insists Milan should be grateful to Leonardo Bonucci, Gonzalo Higuain has to calm down and they’ll “give Juventus a battle.”
It kicks off on Sunday at 19.30 GMT, click here for a match preview.
The game can be watched live on Eleven Sports in the UK and Ireland, click here for more details.
“Juventus are full of champions, strong in every area and the best in every way,” said the Coach in his Press conference.
“They are the best in Europe, along with Barcelona. It almost seems like they don’t have to break a sweat and with Cristiano Ronaldo have added mentality and experience.
“Having said all of that, Milan will play with heads held high, knowing they have something more than us, but anything can happen in football.”
The Rossoneri are in the midst of an injury crisis, missing Lucas Biglia for four months, Mateo Musacchio for two months, Mattia Caldara for three months, with Patrick Cutrone, Franck Kessie and Higuain carrying knocks.
“We needn’t be concerned. It’s true there are many players missing, but we’ll still field the best line-up available. Everyone is giving their all and gritting their teeth to be there, so let’s not seek alibis, because they won’t help.
“If anything, all these problems helped unite the team even more. I see the determination in their eyes that I like. We’re up against a Juventus side that is clearly stronger than us, but there are still important points up for grabs and we want to do well, even while patched up.
“If Juve do better on the night, we’ll applaud them, but we’ll give them a battle first.”
This is a huge match for Higuain, up against his former teammates for the first time, but he is a major doubt to feature after picking up a back injury.
“Considering the way he experiences matches, I urge him to stay calm, because he does get easily irritable,” noted Gattuso.
“He needs to stay clear-headed and be hungry, but not desperate. He can’t do much on his own, he needs the team to work together.
“I love seeing players battle to the last second and that bodes well. We have hunger, character and a sense of belonging. A Coach must also show his team that it’s not all bad, to make them feel alive and important.”
Manchester United beat Juventus 2-1 in the final minute midweek, having defended for most of the game. Will Milan follow their example?
“It depends on where we wait for Juve, as if we do it in the final third, we’ll get hammered. Playing open and attacking football would be risky, so we have to decide where and how to wait for them to come at us.
“A draw against Juve would probably do, but then you massacred me for saying I was happy with a draw against Inter. I ask you again, how is it possible to play for a draw? I don’t know. We don’t start out already defeated, but we are Milan, so can’t say we have nothing to lose either.
“They did dominate the Manchester United game, but have conceded many goals from set plays. We’ve conceded a lot too this season, but have scored more than in previous years. We’ve been doing extra work on corners in training, because we don’t score enough from these situations and our positioning is all wrong.
“We’ve got Kessie, who is like I was but better, in the middle of the park to close down Cristiano Ronaldo. However, the one we need to close down is Bonucci, as the moves start from him.”
How will Bonucci be welcomed by the San Siro crowd, having worn the Milan captain’s armband for just one season before going back to Juve?
“Leo is a player who gave us a great deal. If there are improvements in the defence, especially Alessio Romagnoli, it is also down to him. When I was going over the top, he was always by my side.
“I can only speak highly of Leo, then in life there are many situations and it’s difficult to judge. I tried to convince him to stay, but he has kids, his private life, and this is all to be respected.
“It was an honour to be his Coach and I hope one day that is recognised.”
Gattuso won the Scudetto under Max Allegri at Milan and the pair remain good friends to this day.
“Max was my Coach, he is a friend and we still speak ofren. Arrigo Sacchi is a legend and always gives good advice. I don’t think I have any advantage from knowing Allegri, as he often changes system and line-up. He was also my captain at the very start of my career and then I was reunited with him at Milan. I have only good memories of him and we do chat on the phone for about 30 minutes per week.
“The arguments I had with Max and Leonardo helped me to prepare for this line of work, because when you’re on the other side, you don’t realise when your moment is coming. I’ve been a player, I know how it feels.”
Similarly, Rino has no intention of criticising Jose Mourinho for his hand to ear celebration as Manchester United beat Juventus.
“I’ve done far worse, so I can hardly go around saying what Mourinho can or can’t do. We all get insulted, it’s really not nice.”