Vincenzo Montella has rued the loss of Milan captain Riccardo Montolivo, stating he is 'almost irreplaceable'.
The 31-year-old is out for six months after suffering a cruciate ligament injury in Italy's 1-1 draw with Spain last week. The Rossoneri are looking at options to replace him but Coach Montella described to Corriere della Sera the importance of Montolivo both on and off the field.
Vincenzo Montella has rued the loss of Milan captain Riccardo Montolivo, stating he is 'almost irreplaceable'.
The 31-year-old is out for six months after suffering a cruciate ligament injury in Italy's 1-1 draw with Spain last week. The Rossoneri are looking at options to replace him but Coach Montella described to Corriere della Sera the importance of Montolivo both on and off the field.
“I think he is almost irreplaceable, he guarantees two things. He carries weight in the team and also in the dressing room.
“It will be an even greater loss than you might think. Being the captain, he is one of the players who represents the team the most.
“He has been present in the last few years when results were below expectations and he has been the most targeted in terms of criticism. Playing for Milan also involves standing up when everything else is slipping around you."
Milan do have a replacement in their own squad in the way of 19-year-old Manuel Locatelli, who scored his first top-flight goal in Milan's 4-3 victory over Sassuolo earlier this month, but the Coach is wary of bringing him into the squad too soon.
"Is Locatelli ready? In recent games he has always entered the field in decisive moments, and therefore has my utmost confidence.
“At the same time we must remember that he only has five or six brief outings in Serie A. I would have liked him to be able to grow more slowly."