Vincenzo Montella says he had 'no offers' from Milan and Juventus, and says Mario Balotelli is a maybe for Sampdoria.
The 41-year-old replaced Walter Zenga in November, and while his team did not shine this season, he did keep them safe from relegation.
“Everyone's happier when you're winning,” he told Il Corriere dello Sport. “We've picked up a continuity of results in the last month or two, except for the cold shower against Chievo.
Vincenzo Montella says he had 'no offers' from Milan and Juventus, and says Mario Balotelli is a maybe for Sampdoria.
The 41-year-old replaced Walter Zenga in November, and while his team did not shine this season, he did keep them safe from relegation.
“Everyone's happier when you're winning,” he told Il Corriere dello Sport. “We've picked up a continuity of results in the last month or two, except for the cold shower against Chievo.
“I don't like talking about a 'project', I'd just like to refer to it as a path to follow. Building a team is no mean feat, you need the right ideas and you must put every piece into place. We're working on it.”
The Aeroplanino confirmed that he intends to stay with Sampdoria, and discussed the option of picking up Balotelli.
“Yes, I have a contract and we're already planning the coming season. We'll see if Mario can be used in the squad.
“A team isn't just a roster. You need the players to coexist and to perform well together. Balotelli has great potential, but, like some other players, he can't always express it at his best.
“Me, coaching Milan? I never heard any offer nor met anyone from Milan. It's normal that a team thinking of changing coaches should list 5-10 possibilities, but just being in that list doesn't make you a candidate.
“I'm at Sampdoria and I'm happy here. Although everyone knows I was fan of [Arrigo] Sacchi's Milan as a child and I preferred [Marco] Van Basten to [Diego] Maradona.
“As for Juventus, it's the same as with Milan. I had no calls.”
Montella then discussed some of his players and their odds of playing internationally.
“With [Antonio] Cassano I have a love-love relationship. He likes me and he accepts being benched sometimes. When he comes in, he does well, like last Sunday.
“[Roberto] Soriano, [Andrea] Ranocchia and [Lorenzo] De Silvestri are in the international circuit and the Coach [Antonio Conte] has been following them for a while.
“They're doing well and Ranocchia gives depth to the team.”