“ALL IN THIS TOGETHER”

Everybody will need to play their part to win the derby says Sinisa Mihajlovic.

MILAN – This is what was said during the pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday’s derby with Inter:

Sinisa Mihajlovic opening comments: “Milan have a demanding set of fans who are used to winning. When they see the team performing well they are happy and support, while quite rightly when they don’t see the team performing well they complain. When we are a courageous side the fans will give us their backing. Playing deep in our own half and playing with the fear of making mistakes is not good enough for an ambitious side. It is all down to us to perform well. Derby matches are important and winning them gives you confidence and belief, but at the end of the day it is only a match worth 3 points. The next match is always the most important one. We have prepared as we always do and without too much pressure. It would be great to win just like it would be horrible to lose it. However, a whole season is ahead of us and there are lots of matches still to play. Tomorrow we have to play without pressure and be brave, putting into practice what we have worked on out on the training pitch. The derby is a unique match and neither of the sides go into the match playing at the kind of levels that are expected of them. We have made lots of changes and it will take time. Time is against us however and so we have to increase our efforts. I know I demand a lot from my team, but with commitment, courage and belief we can be contenders this season.”

On his good friend Roberto Mancini: “When I speak with Mancini, we rarely talk about football. Him and Stankovic have labelled us as favourites? I think they want to jinx us! (laughs, editor’s note) Since I am their friend, I will try and make sure their prediction comes true! I have been friends with Mancini for 20 years. It’s always nice to see him, but I also like it when I win. I am proud to have a friend like him and I have to thank him because he gave me the chance to be his assistant. I am grateful towards him. We will be adversaries tomorrow for 90 minutes. I launched a derby-day initiative because I experienced the war in former Yugoslavia. (click here to read more) I know what it is like and I know it is not easy. Rebuilding a new life in a new country is not a small matter. I would like this initiative to become a tradition. Those of us who are privileged have to help those less fortunate than us. Perhaps in the coming months we will try other ones.”

The coach defended his methods: “It will be hard to give a worse performance than the one against Empoli. The press wrote that some of my players felt offended after, but by saying that, it is you who offended them. Those that know me personally, know that I used those words to motivate my players and make them take responsibility. My ways can seem a bit direct, but I say what I think and I never settle for second best. I don’t look for excuses for me or for my team. Milan have struggled for 3 years and we have to get used to expecting more from ourselves. The sooner we do that, the sooner we will start picking up positive results. I know that time is needed, but we have to act quickly. We need to be braver and calmer. If we do this, the criticisms of today will become the positive results of tomorrow and we will start enjoying ourselves again.”

Mihajlovic continued: “All of our training sessions are done at a high tempo. We have the data and they show that we are improving. We have been second to no one this season in terms of our intensity and our fitness. We know however we have to improve, but the players are doing an excellent job in training. We now have to carry that out in matches. However it is not easy to move on after a difficult few years. We need to overcome this mental block because the quality and the desire is there. Tomorrow could be the right match for us to achieve that. I look at the training sessions, I see what the players do and my choices are for the good of the team.”

An appeal from the coach: “Tomorrow we are the away side and I ask the fans to support us and help the team. I am sure they will do that. De Jong and Montolivo can play together changing the playing system. It’s obvious that Capello’s compliments make me happy, he is one of the best coaches in the world. I still have some doubts on the formation. I don’t deny my Inter past. They were wonderful years. But my present is Milan and I am very happy here. The fans sang and I joined in. This is also a part of football: fun, happiness and the odd taunt.”

A word on individuals:Like I have said, I am responsible for my team and I am free to do what I believe is right. I know that in terms of communication I am different to the past. There is no problem with the President or with the management. We met and everyone says what they think. It was a constructive meeting, without any problems. I know that Montolivo can play as a wide midfielder, but I know that he performs better in front of the defence. The same applies for Nigel De Jong. Everyone has his own ideas in football. We have great quality in attack, excellent midfielders and Milan must always play with an attacking formation and with an attacking mentality. Formation aside, it will take the contribution of everybody to win the derby. Everyone has to feel important and decisive, even those who play just a few minutes of the match.”

NIGEL DE JONG
“My goal against Inter in May 2014 was a wonderful feeling and it’s always nice to score in a derby. It’s the best memory I have of my time at Milan. Tomorrow though it is the 3 points that count and not who scores. I don’t know who will play tomorrow but we’re all familiar with our playing system. The coach’s choices will be seen tomorrow. Our job is to work hard in training and then the coach will decide.”

RICCARDO MONTOLIVO
“I have already faced Felipe Melo (ex-team mate at Fiorentina, editor’s note) in the past and I also know Jovetic and Ljajic. We know what they are capable of. We will try and make it hard for the coach with his team selection, but the most important thing is to make the fans happy. My career came to a halt a year and a half ago and I would like to get back on track. I cannot rush things though and have to work just like the others during the week. I have to make sure that I am ready. It is a big match tomorrow for everyone. Psychologically, it could give us an extra boost, but let’s not forget we’re only at round 3 of the season. Therefore we need to stay calm and not put too much pressure on ourselves. I am always giving my all and I always try to make it hard for the coach. I know perfectly well that the coach makes his choices for the good of the team. I am very calm, I will try and be ready when I am called upon. I know the coach perhaps better than the others. I am not taken back by his way of communicating. The squad calmly accepts what the coach says to the press because he says it first of all to us in the changing rooms. We’re disappointed to read certain things in the media. It’s false information passed onto the readers. The squad is together with the coach.”