Former Milan team manager Christian Abbiati admits “a lot of confusion” under the Chinese ownership, and calls Vincenzo Montella “a half-disaster”.
The former Rossoneri goalkeeper worked as a liaison between the squad and the club, but left after just one season to focus on his Harley Davidson dealership.
“You have to be a help for everything and everyone,” Abbiati explained to Gazzetta dello Sport.
Former Milan team manager Christian Abbiati admits “a lot of confusion” under the Chinese ownership, and calls Vincenzo Montella “a half-disaster”.
The former Rossoneri goalkeeper worked as a liaison between the squad and the club, but left after just one season to focus on his Harley Davidson dealership.
“You have to be a help for everything and everyone,” Abbiati explained to Gazzetta dello Sport.
“The Coach, the sporting director, the players, Milanello… it’s a strange role, it’s always right in the balance.
“I’ll give you an example: if a player does something stupid and you tell the Coach, you risk being seen as a spy. In short, it’s a very ‘political' role, and I understand now that it’s not for me. Most of the time I went home in a furious temper.
“The fact I didn’t continue was my choice, [then sporting director Massimiliano] Mirabelli offered me a renewal but I refused. Then I couldn’t see myself in a suit and tie…
“My mistake was to make comparisons with the old Milan, where I had certain reference points.
“There, instead, there was a lot of confusion with regard to the management. It was a smoky organisation that tried to pass for perfect.
“The way it ended didn’t surprise me, and with the way things were going it’s better that it’s over. My reference point was [Coach Gennaro] Gattuso.
“The objective with him was to return Milanello to what it once was, with precise rules for behaviour.
“Rino was a phenomenon, he surprised me a lot as a Coach, he was able to get into the players' heads, stimulating and motivating them. With these generations that’s not easy.
“I’d advise [new owners] Elliott to hold on tight to him.
“Vincenzo Montella? He was a half-disaster. He went wrong because he didn’t trust anyone.”