MILAN – This is what the Rossoneri stars had to say to the Milan Channel at Monday night’s 2016 Gentleman Fair Play Awards.
Giacomo Bonaventura: “I am feeling fairly good. Today I had a check-up. I don’t know if I will be available for the match with Bologna. But I will definitely be available for the game with Roma. I don’t feel like an example to follow. I simply try and give my all to help the team and that is the target I set myself when I play. I am pleased to be here as this is a prestigious award and is further motivation to keep playing at the highest levels. I feel I have had a positive season. I have played with a lot of intensity and achieved some great things. I am happy with my contribution to the team. We have to try and qualify for Europe. Recent results have not been great, but us the players have to roll-up our sleeves and ensure we end the season on a high. We want to claim sixth spot in the table and put in a great performance in the final of the TIM Cup.”
Carlos Bacca: “I am pleased with my first season, with how I have played and for this award. But I am not focusing just on myself. We have to work hard to do well in the end of season run-in and in the final of the TIM Cup. At the moment, we aren’t doing well but we can turn it around in the final. We need to work hard ahead of the final and ensure we have the right mentality. Then, and as I always say, we must have faith in God. Finals are there to be won. No one ever remembers the runners-up, only the winners.”
Josè Mauri: “Wearing the Milan jersey is always a source of pride. I can do more as I don’t think I have played to the best of my abilities in the past two games. I’m aware of the confidence that the coach has in me and this makes me happy. I hope I can find the confidence to give more. The final of the TIM Cup won’t salvage the season, but I hope to reach the final in top-shape and to start. If I play well, then I will be more in than out of the club.”
There was a special guest too in the form of Gerard Piquè. These were his comments to the club’s in-house TV channel: “It’s obvious that a club with Milan’s history is missed in Europe. But if they aren’t there it’s because they don’t deserve it while others do. Milan are in a similar situation to Inter, even if Milan have won more Champions Leagues. However, they will bounce back and they will return to winning the league like they used to. At the moment Juve and Napoli are the teams fighting for the title. Milan and Inter will have to wait for the coming years.”