Gennaro Gattuso felt Milan were “sterile, predictable and tickled the Bologna defence,” but had a message for ex-teammate Pippo Inzaghi.
The teams played out a dire 0-0 draw at the Stadio Dall’Ara this evening.
“We had sterile possession. If we look back, Inter won here with a similar approach, Roma lost, so we did everything right except the final ball and the finishing,” Gattuso told Sky Sport Italia.
Gennaro Gattuso felt Milan were “sterile, predictable and tickled the Bologna defence,” but had a message for ex-teammate Pippo Inzaghi.
The teams played out a dire 0-0 draw at the Stadio Dall’Ara this evening.
“We had sterile possession. If we look back, Inter won here with a similar approach, Roma lost, so we did everything right except the final ball and the finishing,” Gattuso told Sky Sport Italia.
“It was in terms of quality a mediocre performance. We basically tickled their defence rather than jabbed it. Against a side that plays with 10 men behind the ball and has no real intention of attacking, we have to be more incisive.”
Patrick Cutrone seemed unhappy at being substituted for Samu Castillejo in the second half.
“We played 4-3-3 for long periods and with different players, such as Jack Bonaventura. Having more strikers in the box doesn’t necessarily mean we fill it out more efficiently.
“I think that when we play 4-4-2, we can become a bit predictable at times for the opposition. When you play with two strikers, if they don’t make different movements to stretch out the opposition defence, it becomes impossible to break them down.
“I introduced Castillejo in order to get something different in there, someone who takes men on. We don’t tend to dribble to the by-line, that’s not really our approach.
“The important thing is to look each other in the eyes and be honest. Over the next few days, I’ll have a chat with Patrick, certainly.
“These are the characteristics of the players at our disposal right now. We sent Calabria to the by-line several times in the first half, but if the strikers don’t make the right movements to stretch the defence, we become too predictable.”
Both Tiemoue Bakayoko and Franck Kessie are suspended for Saturday’s encounter with Fiorentina.
“We’re missing two important players, but we’ve got plenty of options on the bench. We certainly won’t be beaten before we even start and we’ll figure something out.”
This was a special meeting with his former Milan teammate Inzaghi, who said afterwards that Rino had given him the old friendly greeting of a punch in the back.
“The stronger I punch someone, the more I love them. If I don’t hit you that hard, I don’t appreciate you as much. I love my work, it makes me feel alive and gives me so much. It might make you get older much quicker…”