The stats to emerge from Milan’s 2-1 victory at home to Roma on Saturday.

The interviews following Milan’s victory against the giallorossi.

(IN THE PHOTO: the team celebrate together) 

MILAN – This is what was said by the players, the coach and staff after Milan’s 2-1 victory against Roma in Round 35 of Serie A:

CEO ADRIANO GALLIANI
“The team was very organized. Honda had a fantastic game. But I also think that we gave a respectable performance against Napoli, despite the sending off, but I do not want to comment on referees and not even tonight. Inzaghi told the players yesterday that matches are won during the week and the players have worked hard in these past days. We have to try and win the last 3 matches and see where it takes us. If we were to win all three, we shall then see. Thiago Silva and I are always in contact, after every Milan match he sends me a congratulatory message if we win. He’s very kind. He gladly came to the stadium today and he is the player that remembers most fondly his former side. He watches all of Milan’s matches and he always sends me messages. The new shirt is lucky! (click here to read more) Because we wore it for the first time against the team that is second in the league and we won and we hope it is a positive sign for next season. I spoke to the President before the match, at half-time and afterwards and this says it all about what Berlusconi thinks about his Milan and I underline his. From all of his activities, Milan is the one that is closest to his heart, that he loves so much, so, long live President Berlusconi. Luckily I have an excellent relationship with Florentino Perez, and I knew of the competition between Diego Lopez and Casillas, I made my move and took advantage of the ‘assist’ and I was able to sign him. I have to thank Carlo Ancelotti and William Vecchi that always spoke very well about Diego Lopez. Watching Real Madrid’s matches, he seemed to me a great goalkeeper and we brought him here. Today I saw a different atmosphere at the stadium. I hope that we can reconcile the atmosphere around the club under the leadership of the great Silvio Berlusconi.” 

COACH INZAGHI (to the Milan Channel)
“I am sorry about being sent-off. Maybe I was a bit too disapproving. I hope that I can be on the side-lines to lead the team for the Sassuolo match. The fans are good with me. I am the first to be disappointed, but if I am given the chance, I will take Milan back to the top. We need consistency and unity, we have taken a bit more time than expected, but if we’re able to do this we will go back to the top. It’s easier when you have the whole squad available. The only match in which we were missing was against Udinese. We have a precise identity in our playing style, today we weren’t just about sitting back and breaking on the counter attack, and we played football. We have to build from this match. Let’s win the next 3 matches and do everything we can and then we shall see where we finish. To improve and try and get back on track, I only know one solution: work. This squad knows it should have done better. But the players gave a great response and this is the most important thing.”

MATTIA DESTRO
“We really wanted to do well in front of our fans and we were able to restore winning ways. My goal was dedicated to my grand-father who recently passed away, it was important to me. The main thing was to play well in front of our fans and we were able to do that. We prepared the match well, like we do for every match, and perhaps today we were able to put into practice what we had worked on. This new shirt brought us luck, wearing it and winning right away makes me think it is lucky and so we are happy! We have to win all of our final 3 matches, it’s what we want, we never accept defeat and so we will play next Sunday trying to get maximum points. We always have to give more, because we’re not having a great season and so we have to try and win the last matches to finish the season in the best possible manner. Continuity is the key word and we have to string together a series of wins. I have an excellent relationship with my former team mates and I am very attached to Roma. I wish them the best of luck. I am very good friends with Alessio Cerci and luckily we are now both in the same team.” 

GIACOMO BONAVENTURA
“It’s a win that gives us confidence and is satisfying, against a very strong Roma side. We’re pleased because it was a good match. Every match is different. Today we started off lively, trying to press our opponents and we also created chances of our own. It’s a win that gives us hope for the end of season run-in. Roma gave us space for us to play. When you play with this kind of approach and this desire, there are more chances to dominate the match. We had lots of opportunities and we’re happy. We have had a troubled season, but during our first meeting against Roma we were a very organized team, and then things took a turn for the worse. We’re in good shape and we must do our best to collect as many points as possible. The whole atmosphere is more positive when you win and you’re able to work better. It’s a win that gives us confidence in our abilities and the strength to take on the final part of the season. It’s only normal that the fans are behind us when you win these big matches, and this has to be a source of motivation for us to win all of the matches from now until the end. We hope we can finish the season strongly and then we will think about next season.”

MARCO VAN GINKEL
“I feel really good after my first goal and a nice win against Roma, who are a good side and second in the table. I am very happy, we did well and worked hard as a team, that is important. After we scored our second goal, Roma came back into the game and attacked more. We did not give many chances away. We did well as a team and created good chances. There were some difficulty moments after they pulled a goal back but we did well and congratulations to the team. We will take things game by game. There are 3 matches to go and hopefully we can win all 3. I like the new shirt!” 

COACH INZAGHI (press conference)
“For 3 or 4 months we played just like we did tonight. Then there was a blackout, perhaps due to the injuries and changing the formation maybe took away confidence, but tonight the players were excellent. Looking back is pointless and we have to build from this performance, look forwards and give all that we have. We were a team and I don’t think it was an individual that changed the situation. I am convinced that Menez would have also done well if he had played tonight. We’ve always had the right attitude, with the exception of the match against Udinese. We need a lot of patience, and I don’t think we should get ahead of ourselves after tonight’s match, but instead understand that we have created a good group and that we have to win the next 3 matches. Then, the club will make its decisions. The new shirt brought us luck and I think that CEO Galliani will make us wear it for the next matches! Joking aside, it was the attitude today that made the difference. When you’re not able to meet expectations, we’re all to blame, the coach first of all. We’re a team characterized by players that break on the counter-attack, but today we were more than that and we played good football. Honda has been out lately and it has been hard for him to re-find his fitness. His attitude is an example for how he trains and we have to start off again with players like him. When you wear the Milan shirt you have to keep a tight hold of it because it is special. I’ve found it hard to understand why we haven’t been able to replicate our performances from November and December. I am sorry about my sending off. But, I hope to be on the bench against Sassuolo, as otherwise they would take away from me something that I am very fond of.”