Leonardo discusses Gattuso’s future, Paqueta and chance of Zlatan return

By Oliver Fisher -

AC Milan director Leonardo has revealed that it is not absolutely vital that the club qualifies for next season’s Champions League.

A win against Genoa on Wednesday night would lift the Rossoneri into fourth place after ten rounds of games, and on course for a return to Europe’s biggest club competition.

However, Leonardo claims that it will ‘not become an obsession’ to finish in the top four. 

“We want to qualify for the Champions League, but it does not have to become our obsession,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport (via MilanNews).

“For a club like Milan, the goal is only a return to Europe, which is what matters.

“We think we have a suitable structure to achieve this goal, but we must not make a mistake of turning it into an obsession.

“At the moment, we are three points behind 4th place with a game in hand, so it’s perfectly on line with our aims.”

Leonardo also addressed rumours that coach Gennaro Gattuso is under pressure.

“The rumours about Gattuso comes from sources outside of our club, and they are unfounded.

“We didn’t consider it necessary to deny them, because Rino knows that he has our full support.”

Leonardo also discussed Lucas Paqueta’s arrival at the club, and the chances of a return for Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

On Paquetá: “He’s 21 years old, with great potential. He started playing in the national team and has accumulated some experience in a team that is second in the Brazilian league.”

On Ibrahimovic: “I think that talking about the market now would be a bit out of the way. We think of the team’s growth, where we have seen an important response after two defeats, which is very important.”

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