SINISA MIHAJLOVIC
“We’re sorry not to have come away with the 3 points because we had a great chance to cut the gap to the sides above us in the table, but I want to congratulate my players. We just weren’t quite sharp enough and were lacking a bit of luck. The result was fortunate, but the performance wasn’t and was there from the team. We cannot get down for the result and we have to keep this going. Boateng and Balotelli have improved in terms of their fitness. We are the side that creates the most, but we don’t capitalise on those chances. This is an area we need to improve upon. But playing like we have been doing, and being more clinical in front of goal, we can improve our position in the table. Bertolacci’s effort wasn’t a goal not given, but a chance missed. We have not had luck on our side this season in the league. The only match we drew but we deserved to lose was versus Atalanta, but in the others we deserved other results. We have been doing well in this second part of the season, we could have had more points, but football is also great because of this. Let’s hope we have a bit more luck in the next matches, because we have also been playing well. When you play well and don’t win it’s disappointing and a shame.”

ANDREA BERTOLACCI
“A win would have been a fairer result based on how we played. We went into the match on the back of two wins and we wanted to extend our winning run. We have dropped two points and that leaves us feeling disappointed, but we gave our absolute all. I am someone that has to go through negative times to emerge even stronger. Looking back at the replays, it looked like my shot went in, but it didn’t, and there are days when the ball just doesn’t want to go in. We can take consolation from the fact that Fiorentina and Inter also dropped points. Let’s look at the positive side. It’s our goal to get the enthusiasm back and if the fans are behind us we can do well. I feel a part of this group, we are a strong side and are all motivated.”

SINISA MIHAJLOVIC (press conference)
“Today was a great opportunity to close the gap and we deserved to come away with 3 points. The performance was there from the team and we cannot let this draw today get us down. We are one of the teams that has most shots on goal and we can climb up the table. I had to make a change at the break and I chose Kucka. I hope he doesn’t have anything serious. We were always in control of the match. It’s true we conceded a goal that could have been avoided, but we created a lot of chances. I expect more from Balotelli and that will come when his fitness gets better.”