Milan director Paolo Maldini concedes their performance to beat Fiorentina was hardly impressive, but they ‘wanted to win and we did’ to keep up with leaders Napoli.
The Rossoneri again struggled to make their chances count and then looked sluggish for long periods, as they almost sat back after Rafael Leao opened the scoring within 90 seconds.
Antonin Barak’s deflected effort beat Ciprian Tatarusanu to equalise and there were goal-line clearances at both ends to deny Brahim Diaz and Jonathan Ikone.
In stoppages, Ante Rebic and Pietro Terracciano both went for an Aster Vranckx cross and it bounced in off Nikola Milenkovic.
“A draw would’ve changed the mood going into two months of the break, but we held on somehow with a spirit of sacrifice, without playing frankly that well, but we wanted to win and we did,” Maldini told DAZN.
A victory was necessary to keep the gap at the top of the table to ‘only’ eight points from Luciano Spalletti’s side.
“Napoli have done some incredibly things with 11 wins in a row, so they deserve credit for that. We are more or less where we were last season, except we are also in the Champions League Round of 16 and have a different mentality. That allows us to keep the enthusiasm going even when the performances aren’t very good.”
Fikayo Tomori made a last-ditch sliding tackle on Jonathan Ikone in the penalty area, an example of the kind of desperate defending that earned this win.
“It was a very open game and anything could’ve happened, but a draw for us would’ve been like half a defeat, so that gave us the strength to push harder and at times go beyond logic or style to get the job done.
“Of course we believe in ourselves. Last season, when we played the derby, we were seven points off Inter. We know it’s not easy to keep this pace going to the end, so we have to stay in there and see what happens.
“At this moment, we are running on empty to a degree, it’s not something I saw at the start of the season. Hopefully we can get players back after the break, as for example Zlatan Ibrahimovic should return in January.”
Is there the risk some of Milan’s players were distracted by the upcoming World Cup in Qatar?
“We don’t have that many players who are going to the World Cup and one of them is 36 years old, so we doubt he will be distracted.
“Sergino Dest in fact gritted his teeth to be here and contribute to the team even when not 100 per cent fit.”
Charles De Ketelaere was left on the bench this evening, yet he is in the Belgium squad for the World Cup.
“We signed a five-year contract with Charles, not five months, so we have the patience to wait for him,” smiled Maldini.
“He has everything required to be decisive for this club. We had many examples in the past, for example Rafael Leao, who took a while to learn what it means to play for Milan and reach maturation.”
It is unfathomable, inexplicable and other incomprehensible for a coach to pick Diaz and krunic whilst having the likes of vrankx, pobega, adli and de ketelaere available! Literally creating the disaster and misery thru woeful selections! Plays Milan‘s best center back at full back whilst a right full back is sat on the bench! Questions need to be asked of a coach who seems to be making demented selections!
fear not. the ex-italy captain is off to france to pick up some reinforcements.