AC Milan boss Marco Giampaolo has insisted that only ‘the last 20 metres’ are missing from his team’s game at the moment.
The Rossoneri are in a difficult moment having won two and lost four of their opening six games; their worst start to a league season since 1938-39.
Pressure is mounting on Giampaolo as a consistent improvement in performances has not yet been seen, with many supporters already calling for his sacking.
Rudi Garcia, Andriy Shevchenko, Gennaro Gattuso, Roberto Donadoni and Claudio Ranieri have all been linked with taking his place, as have Max Allegri and Luciano Spalletti.
Giampaolo though stated in his pre-Genoa press conference that the players must fight for the shirt and not for him, and he went on to shed more light on the current state of affairs.
“Nobody expected this situation,” he told reporters, as per MilanNews.it.
“Unfortunately we probably did something wrong, now we have to get out of this negative moment. We are missing the last 20-25 meters, they must be put in place.
“I’m used to suffering, in football terms. It is not important to respond flatly to the accusations, we must work and disprove the sceptics.
“The critics are right. The team is not expressing itself at its best. You have to be lucid.
“The game requires competition and attention, but must then be played well. I worry about these dynamics.”
There has been speculation that Krzysztof Piatek will be dropped against his former side, but the head coach dismissed those rumours.
“Milan cannot give up their most prolific striker. If he does not make the goals, who makes them?
“He can also stay out two or three matches in a league, but we cannot give up our top scorer. Important men must stay in trench.”
On whether Lucas Biglia will start over Ismael Bennacer, he added: “Tomorrow Biglia could come in handy.”
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