Sinisa Mihajlovic felt Torino “committed suicide and ruined everything we had worked for” in a 2-1 Coppa Italia defeat to Milan.
Andrea Belotti had put the visitors 1-0 up at the break, but Juraj Kucka and Jack Bonaventura turned it around in three minutes.
Sinisa Mihajlovic felt Torino “committed suicide and ruined everything we had worked for” in a 2-1 Coppa Italia defeat to Milan.
Andrea Belotti had put the visitors 1-0 up at the break, but Juraj Kucka and Jack Bonaventura turned it around in three minutes.
“We can only blame ourselves, because we committed suicide. It’s painful to go out like this, as we dominated the first half, then in the second got a bit lazy and Milan scored twice in three minutes,” the Coach told Rai Sport.
“It hurts, because we lost twice this season to Milan without being inferior over the 90 minutes. We compliment them and accept the blame for throwing it away.
“We cared a great deal about this tournament and in three minutes we ruined everything we had worked for. If we continue to get deep, sooner or later Milan will score, but we gave them that opportunity.
“We played very badly during a 10-minute spell, then after the goals started up again, but Gigio Donnarumma was decisive.”
In a strange twist of fate, Torino will face Milan again in Serie A on Monday evening.
“I hope this can serve as a lesson to us for Monday so we don’t make the same mistakes. We’ve got to play the full 90 minutes to the max, without thinking about the result or resting on our laurels.
“We showed a lack of character. When you’re winning at San Siro, playing the way we did in the first half, there was no need to relax. It’s a psychological issue and you can only resolve it with players of character who take the initiative.
“When we had the lead, we should’ve finished Milan off, but wasted too many counter-attacks. We did the same against Sassuolo, not making our domination count with goals, and in the end you pay for that.”
Juan Manuel Iturbe had his first start in a Torino jersey, but wasted some promising opportunities.
“He only just arrived, so needs to get the hang of our system and also better fitness levels. He needs to rediscover the faith in his own abilities and the desire to take risks that he once had.”
Messages came through from Rossoneri supporters thanking Mihajlovic for his spell on the San Siro bench.
“For a Coach it is pleasing to know you left good memories behind with fans, players, directors and all those who worked at Milan. It makes me proud and I wish Milan all the best – after Monday, obviously…”