Alessandro Florenzi has provided an honest reaction to AC Milan’s defeat against Atalanta, admitting that the team will leave with ‘broken bones’.
Milan suffered late heartbreak at the Gewiss Stadium as Luis Muriel’s backheel in added time at the end of the 90 minutes stole all three points for Gian Piero Gasperini’s side, who had twice led through Ademola Lookman.
The Rossoneri showed good spirit to twice come from a deficit, equalising firstly through Olivier Giroud’s header from a corner and then from substitute Luka Jovic. However, it would all be for nothing in the end as defensive errors proved costly.
Florenzi spoke to DAZN after the game to react to what was a difficult game especially for the defensive department, with his comments relayed by MilanNews.
How do you think the match went?
“I think we approached the match in the correct way. If we had all been there it would have been easier, we lack strong players. Important players for us. We leave the field disappointed for the three goals and for having lost the match that in my opinion we didn’t deserve to lose.
“I also came to the microphones after the defeat against Udinese, I saw two different matches. One in which we also lacked in terms of mentality, aggression, everything that I saw much better this evening.
“Then it’s obvious that coming out with 0 points makes us very sad. We have to start again as always, the luck of having a match on Wednesday even if we are few at the moment is certainly a good thing.”
Was there a lack of clarity at the end after the red card?
“A bit of a key to understanding all matches: when you can’t win you shouldn’t lose. They found a flash, we lost a 1-2 inside the area, Muriel scores an incredible goal which is within his reach due to the qualities he has. We leave with broken bones but with great regret because in my opinion we deserved the draw.”
Today you were more of a midfielder than a full-back…
“In my head, which is what the coach tells me to do, occupying spaces becomes really important with this game. By moving infield so much we left space perhaps for Theo to let him move up, or perhaps by coming inside he found himself behind Pasalic or behind Koopmeiners for the runs of the midfielder.
“It really depended on how they came to pick us up. He is no longer a midfielder or defender but depends on the spaces.”
The table now looks a bit more bleak…
“I think we have had a clear objective in our heads since we met this summer: to be competitive on multiple fronts. We know that Wednesday’s match will be a do or die, Europe or just the league.
“I don’t look at the ranking much until March. Towards March-April I personally understand what the team’s ambitions could be, but starting with a high ambition from the beginning of the year.”
How much hope do you have for the match against Newcastle?
“Hope is the last to die. It’s an inside or outside game. If you win you still secure the Europa League which is an important competition, in which Milan can have their say if we go there.”