Alessandro Florenzi spoke to the media after AC Milan secured the win against Sassuolo tonight at San Siro, addressing the huddle that took place after the game and the jeers Rafael Leao got.
Milan emerged 1-0 victors in front of a sold out home crowd to end 2023 in the right way but it was far from a convincing win like the Monza game, for example, with the Rossoneri having to wait until the second half to make the breakthrough.
Christian Pulisic proved to once again be the man to score the crucial opening goal as he converted a one-on-one chance not long before the hour mark, and in the end it would be enough to beat a spirited opponent.
Florenzi was the man who led the post-match huddle in front of the Curva Sud, saying a few words to the players with Stefano Pioli in the dressing room. He spoke to DAZN after what was an emotional win in many ways, with his comments relayed by MilanNews.
What’s with that final circle scream at the end of the game?
“There is a great victory in front of our fans. There is a cry of suffering (laughs). Jokes aside, there is a cry because we all wanted this victory and we knew how fundamental it was for us, for Milan and for these fans who supported us today too.
“That huddle is for us, to say that every time we leave the pitch with our tongues hanging out we cannot look back with bitterness, whatever the result. Today we all really came out with our tongues hanging out, happy, satisfied and aware that we had given everything. This is a great strength.”
Is an important part of the victory also for Pioli who has not lived simple days?
“The coach has the experience to let everything slide as happens to many experienced players, me first and foremost, when there is criticism.
“When they are well-founded and constructive they are always accepted, but we have closed ourselves off and we have to be good at not letting anyone into that group and continue on our way and then obviously win the games.”
What is this Milan’s objective now?
“The objective, the horizon now is Cagliari in three days, trying to give our best and leaving the pitch as we did this evening.”
Were you surprised by the booing at Leao?
“Well, I’ll tell you the truth. Do you want to know the truth? I had other things to think about than the booing for Leao, I’ll tell you the honest truth (laughs). I’m sure that Rafa has the strong shoulders to take these boos which for them [the fans] were deserved.
“But Rafa is strong, he has tough shoulders and behind him he has a team ready to push him further and transform, because he is the strongest player we have, these little whistles into big applause.”
I bet Leao can’t wait to make another social media post hitting out at his “haters”.
The man who after he scored a goal vs PSG, only goal in the last 3 months said that he does his talking on the pitch, but the only talking he’s been doing has been on social media.
Has made more posts calling out fans or pundits than goals scored.
Pocketed 1v1 by Mazzocchi vs Salernitana, Pocketed 1v1 by Toljan today.
Exactly. Every time Leao is kept quiet (which is more often than he’s not…) his fanbois come out and yell “he was doubled by the whole opponent” or similar bs.
To be honest, even Castillejo looked more dangerous today than him.
It turns 25 next year. Another 5 years in football will pass very quickly. He may wake up at the age of 30 that he has not achieved anything in his career even though he had great talent. It would not be the first case, not the last. He is a player with the body of a man but the mind of a child. Sad…