Montolivo sees improved Milan

By Football Italia staff

Milan captain Riccardo Montolivo is optimistically looking ahead to the new campaign. “We’re strong.”

The Rossoneri just sneaked into the Champions League zone at the end of last season, but the midfielder thinks the Diavolo are a better outfit than they were.

“We are more of a team than we were a year ago,” the Italian international told the Gazzetta dello Sport.

“We are stronger and we feel ready for the season.

“Juventus will be favourites for the title, they were the strongest and they have reinforced,” he added. “But there are a lot of clubs on the second row – Inter, Roma, Fiorentina, Napoli and Milan.

“The objective is to confirm ourselves in the top three.”

Milan have gone for continuity this season after keeping a large proportion of the squad, along with boss Massimiliano Allegri.

“We understood at the end of last season that there was a chance that Allegri could go,” the former Fiorentina ace added.

“But I’m happy nothing happened. Allegri has all that is needed to boss a great team.”

The San Siro giants have opened the door to youth in recent times and Montolivo is impressed with the budding talent at Milanello.

“Andrea Poli has a chance of going to the World Cup,” he said of the summer signing from Sampdoria. “He’ll have a great season.

“Bryan Cristante has been with the first team squad before and we know him, while Andrea Petagna has surprised me.

“However, I’m betting on Luca Iotti for the new season.”

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