By Anna Italia
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@ItalianSerieA
It’s a nightmare and crude reality for AC Milan after elimination of the UEFA Champions League. Here are the declarations of AC Milan Coach Clarence Seedorf after losing the Champions League Round of 16 Second Leg against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday 11 March 2014 at the Vicente Calderon Stadium in Madrid, Spain: Atletico Madrid 4 – 1 AC Milan
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AC Milan Coach CLARENCE SEEDORF
“We’ve played some
big games in the last few weeks and we’ve nothing to show for it. That
kills the ability to react. There was no grit in the second half. Our
fans have definitely suffered for too long but I’m sure they have black
and red hearts and when someone falls, they have to get back up. The
players are working with commitment and they’re trying to get out of
this situation. From my part, from tomorrow, I’ll be working with
strength and enthusiasm to get their spirits back up as Parma will be
the first of 11 games from here to the end of the league and we’ll have
to do well to end the season the best we can. It’s over now and we have
to react. We have to look to the match against Parma and find the
strength to get back on our feet as life teaches us. I believe that we
tried to get the best out of ourselves in this match. We played a great
game against Atletico in the first leg and we knew it would be difficult
to come here but we had to play it. Now we have to play as well as we
can for the remaining 11 matches in the league and then start thinking
about next season. All players will be important from here to the end.
We need courage, strength to fight and we have to stick together to the
end”.
“In
the second half they created a lot and we didn’t react. They played
better, all credit to them and the best of luck for the rest of the
competition.
I didn’t see any problems between Balotelli and Pazzini,
I was focused on other aspects of the match. We have 11 matches left to
play in the league and Balotelli remains fundamental for us. When you
win, you win together and it’s the same when you lose. It0s not anyone
one single player’s fault.
Even if a single player doesn’t have the
best evening of his life, that doesn’t mean the team can’t do well all
the same. This evening, that’s the way it went. In the second half in
particular, we struggled a lot. The second goal killed our ability to
react. We fought, we tried but we couldn’t do it. We played some good
matches this month, but continually chasing the game, we ran out of
energy. Then we conceded one of those goals. Now we have to try and pull
the best out of ourselves. At this moment, the players couldn’t give
any more than they did, both physically and mentally.
I’m used to
getting back up when I fall. We lost a game against a big team that
deserved to win. From tomorrow though, myself and the players will be
right back to work trying to do better and to grow”.
