Milan midfielder Riccardo Montolivo admits “nobody expected so many problems” at the start of the season.
The Rossoneri spent big in the summer to sign the likes of Lucas Biglia, Leonardo Bonucci and Nikola Kalinic, but they’re currently in the bottom half of Serie A, 12 points from a Champions League place.
“Nobody expected so many problems,” Montolivo confessed, speaking to Sky.
“That’s why it was difficult to find balance, we’re working to get out of this complicated period.
Milan midfielder Riccardo Montolivo admits “nobody expected so many problems” at the start of the season.
The Rossoneri spent big in the summer to sign the likes of Lucas Biglia, Leonardo Bonucci and Nikola Kalinic, but they’re currently in the bottom half of Serie A, 12 points from a Champions League place.
“Nobody expected so many problems,” Montolivo confessed, speaking to Sky.
“That’s why it was difficult to find balance, we’re working to get out of this complicated period.
“My desires match up with those of Milan. The goal is to overcome these difficulties and find the consistency we missed in 2017.
“The psychological aspect has been important, I hope the Coppa Italia derby we won gives us an important boost.
“To get back to what Milan should be is a long process. Right now fans just want to see a compact team and that’s a quicker process.
“We’ve lost a lot of ground in the league, the ones at the top are going strong. The two cups are concrete objectives for us and it’d be nice to get to the end in both.
“We didn’t expect all these obstacles, and when you’re not ready to face certain difficulties what happened to us is the result.
“Everyone must work to find himself.”
Montolivo also discussed his own season, as well as some of his teammates.
“I had a difficult summer, but I never looked for excuses or someone to blame. I just tried to work, improve, and make myself ready.
“It wasn’t easy to be out at the beginning but then I seized my chance.
“Leonardo Bonucci? Leo and I have known each other for many years, there were no problems with him.
“Everyone wants to get out of this situation together so we don’t talk about old and new. Our dressing room is united.
“I hope 2018 will be the year of [Patrick] Cutrone. He’s been a nice surprise, but we need to remember that the difficult part comes now, when everyone expects to much from him.
“Patrick has the right mentality so I’m sure he’ll make it.”
At the start of the season Vincenzo Montella was on the Rossoneri bench, but he’s been replaced by Gennaro Gattuso.
“He’s working with great passion and seriousness,” Montolivo assured.
“No-one cares more about the fate of Milan. Rino’s greatest quality is to have great balance after the game, whether you win or lose his attitude doesn’t change.
“That’s an important quality.”