MILANELLO – On Saturday afternoon, Filippo Inzaghi held his pre-match press conference. This is what the coach had to say ahead of the visit of Torino:

Opening comments ahead of what will be Milan’s last home match of the season: “I heard what Diego Lopez and Giacomo Bonaventura had to say earlier this week (at the San Siro Gentleman Awards, editor’s note) and they showed a strong sense of belonging. We have to start off from this. It’s the last match at home in what has been a tough season. We must do our all to win. In the past 3 matches we have played with commitment and the right spirit. We won one of them, while in the other two we played well but they were negative from other points of view, but I don’t want to go over it all again. We need this sprit against Torino and we have to try and end with a win because it’s the last home match of the season.” 

Inzaghi continued: “Torino brought me luck! (as a player, editor’s note) I am now a coach however. Pazzini and Destro are both two very good players, but whoever takes to the pitch will give their all. We’re at the San Siro on Sunday and it’s nice to play at night. It’s been a hard year, but we hope it is a good match. I am the same as always ahead of the match. I have a contract for another year, and until I am told otherwise, I will continue on my path. I will always try and give my all, as I have always done. When someone gives their all they have no regrets. I’m often in contact with the president. At times we’ve been in agreement and others we haven’t. But, my decision has always been final, just how it should be. On Sunday, I will choose what I think is the best team to beat Torino. Speaking to the president every day, you cannot always have the same opinion. There are no problems. He has also said lots of positive things. I am very calm.” 

In response to questions over his future: “When a season doesn’t go as you had wished, a lot of names are mentioned, but until I am told otherwise, I will continue doing my job. I have a contract and I hope to be given the chance to take Milan back to where the fans want. There is a good core of Italian players with good principles to build from. The foundations are there and the situation is not all that bad. We have to do a lot to get back to a certain level, but the ingredients are in place to achieve it.” 

On the young players coming through: “I know the youth players at Milan better than anyone because I won the Viareggio Tournament with them. Many of them went to play in Serie B and unfortunately they did not play much. We handed Felicioli his debut, who was born in 1997, and is very good. We all know that the players born in 1998 at Milan are promising, but to hand a 16 year-old a debut at a time like this in Serie A is hard, especially for their future. They should not just be thrown into the fray.” 

Closing comments: “Honda will play. He deserves it for the attitude that he shows all week and in training.”