Gennaro Gattuso lambasted Milan in a fiery Press conference. “We hit rock bottom, I cancelled their days off and mine. You can’t act like an idiot and then play.”
The Rossoneri lost 1-0 at home to Benevento, who are bottom of the table and were mathematically relegated anyway.
They visit Bologna on Sunday at 14.00 UK time (13.00 GMT), click here for a match preview.
Gennaro Gattuso lambasted Milan in a fiery Press conference. “We hit rock bottom, I cancelled their days off and mine. You can’t act like an idiot and then play.”
The Rossoneri lost 1-0 at home to Benevento, who are bottom of the table and were mathematically relegated anyway.
They visit Bologna on Sunday at 14.00 UK time (13.00 GMT), click here for a match preview.
“We hit rock bottom, now we have to take our responsibility and it’s not right to give the players a day off in these circumstances,” said the Coach.
“I too had two days off and had a short break planned with my family in Spain, but I tore up the tickets and stayed here to work with my lads. Some agreed with that less than others, but do I look like I give a damn?
“Do you think I’m passing on this determination to the players? Do I look like I’m at the training ground brushing the hair of dollies? You’ll see tomorrow if they are fired up or not.
“I am not disappointed with the current form, I am ****ed off, because I know we can do so much more. We haven’t won for 40 days and to come here with a little smile on my face would be disrespectful to everyone. I can’t come here and say we’re perfect, joke around.”
There were reports over the last few days that director of sport Massimiliano Mirabelli is on the verge of dismissal.
“The club is always supporting me and in contact. Just as I am trying to earn my place, so are all the others who represent Milan. It’s only right that we are reminded of what is at stake and what, eventually, could happen.
“Mirabelli was already reassured by those who needed to do so. Massimiliano has done great things, the problem is that as soon as that story ends, there will be accusations towards someone else, then another and another. That’s why I don’t want to read the papers, as I work and look everyone I work with in the eye.
“I just want to take the club back where it deserves to be. At times I don’t even know where to begin, but I have to try. It’s hard like this, though. When we were winning, people acted as if we were all Brad Pitt, now we’re all monsters.
“I could sit here and talk about alibis, but that’s not what I do. We mustn’t let our heads be filled by hot air. It’s our duty to do our talking on the field and when results deteriorate, we give strength to those who want us out.”
The defeat to Benevento was the culmination of a dire run of form, that has seen Milan put together just four draws and two losses since their last victory on March 18.
“Against Benevento I saw a team without a soul and we were playing as individuals, not a team. I’ve been saying for months that if this squad doesn’t play in a certain way, it will struggle against anyone.
“When we’ve played with humility, we have always done well. If we start thinking we are stars, with no soul or hunger, then we’ll get embarrassed like that. The thing that most infuriates me is that we don’t see these negative signs in training, they appear only during a game.
“We are a strong side, but lack something to really step up. We have to change our mentality, as that’s where it all starts from. We must not adapt to our opponents, but follow our own characteristics. We have to play as an organised unit, not with everyone wandering around doing what they feel like.
“If we hold out well against Gonzalo Higuain and then let ‘normal’ players get past us, that’s a matter of mentality. No wonder I’m angry! We always struggle against the smaller sides, so taking away the days off was the least I could do.
“We’re in the thick of the battle now and there’s no time to look around or perform experiments. We might be struggling a little physically, but on paper some statistics have improved compared to a month ago.
“I want to see the eye of the tiger in every player. There is always going to be pressure at Milan, but bar talk will only take us towards Hell.
“I’ll work hard, at the end of the season we’ll evaluate the situation with the club and if they’re not happy with me, I’ll go home. We are all being judged, but hurting ourselves will get us nowhere. We all have responsibility.”
Gattuso has been rotating strikers Nikola Kalinic, Patrick Cutrone and Andre Silva, but refused to answer when asked who would start against Bologna.
“You’ll see tomorrow. I evaluate based on training and what I see throughout the week. I can’t think that someone acts like an idiot and then gets to play, as the three players are all of a similar quality, but have different characteristics.”