MILAN – This is what was said by the players and coach in the wake of the team’s 1-0 victory at Bologna:

PHILIPPE MEXES
“The least a player can do when he plays is give 100%. The most important thing tonight was to win, even if we didn’t give a sparkling performance. We now have to focus on the game with Roma and the final of the TIM Cup. This is a testing time. We must do well and show the fans that we are determined because this jersey deserves to be honoured with the right attitude and approach. Then, the results and confidence come as a consequence. I hope this win boosts morale. It doesn’t matter who plays as the main thing is to qualify for Europe. Coach Brocchi gives us confidence. He is putting his heart and soul into the job. But at the end of the day, it’s the players who take to the pitch and so we have to give everything we have. Niang was enjoying an excellent season. I hope he can come back into the fold for these final matches. He was very important to the team. Every match is important to me and whoever I face I give my very best for the team.” 

DAVIDE CALABRIA
“It was far from easy to come back into the side after such a long time out and I started to tire in the second half. I hope to play more often in the next games or next season and give 100% for the team. I wanted an opportunity to play. The coach asks us to be aggressive in attack. We needed these 3 points. We struggled a bit in the closing stages because of tiredness and we have to improve on this aspect. Brocchi is a great coach and he will have a bright future as a coach. At the start of the year, I didn’t expect to play much but having then played 4 or 5 matches before December I hoped to play more often. After that however I didn’t play for a while and so it was only natural that my morale dropped. Mexes has a lot of experience and he is a big help at the back. He brings a lot of character and personality which helps the team do well. We are in for two very hard matches now versus Roma and Juve. We can come out on top however because we’re Milan and we always have to aim for the win.”  

CRISTIAN BROCCHI (press conference)
“The players needed a win to boost morale and we go home tonight feeling a bit more confident.  At the start of the match we were able to get the ball to Honda, but once Bologna were sent down to 10-men they dropped deep and we were forced to spread the play wide. We are still trying to click and the midfielders were often thwarted by the opposition defence. When you come up against teams that close up you have to choose the right moment to attack the defensive line. Sassuolo have an established playing style and a coach who has been in charge for a while. I have only just taken over. The players are following my ideas though and they are starting to understand the kind of things I want them to carry out. The team tonight showed the desire to win. We encountered a few difficulties, but the main thing tonight was to come away with all 3 points. This is a big win for morale and the league table.”