MILAN - On Monday afternoon, Christian Abbiati spoke to the press ahead of Tuesday’s Italian Cup tie at home to Sassuolo at the San Siro. The last-16 tie kicks-off at 21.00 and you can read a match preview by clicking here.These were Abbiati’s thoughts about Tuesday’s opponents: "We’re playing at home, so we have an advantage. We are very motivated. Sassuolo in attack are a dangerous side. They have some excellent players upfront. The problem during our league encounter was that we weren’t able to kill off the match."The Italian shot-stopper analysed Milan’s last match away to Torino, which ended in a 1-1 draw: "The match against Torino was a strange one, and I think it was just a false step. We’re not far off third place in the league table and we have the head to head match against Lazio in our favour. There’s no need to make a drama of the situation after the Torino match, because there is no drama. I don’t think there was a problem fitness wise, as we played for a long spell in 10 v 11, but we did concede from a corner. We didn’t play our game, but we defended well."Abbiati had his say on Milan’s weakness this season from dead ball situations: "There is just one explanation: we need to be attentive when marking and be a bit smarter. Third place? I think that Milan can do it, it’s an objective that many sides are chasing. We have to think one game at a time."The Milan goalkeeper commented on the new arrival Alessio Cerci and then reiterated the strength and unity of the Milan side going into Tuesday's cup match: "He can help us a lot, I believe he has a big desire to show what he can do, he’s an Italy international and adds value to the side. We have faith in coach Inzaghi. On the way back from Turin, there was complete silence on the coach: it’s a sign the team cares. Tomorrow we will show that the group is there."Abbiati continued: "We have to stay close to third place and continue fighting. I really care about the Italian Cup. We’re not playing in the Champions League, but it remains an important competition. I’ve been at Milan for 15 years and the most frustrating thing is that sides come to Milan thinking that they can compete, before they hoped not to concede a hatful of goals. The things have to return to how they were."