Abate: ‘Milan have strong squad’

By Football Italia staff

Ignazio Abate believes Milan can start a “winning cycle” as “only Napoli and Juventus” have better squads.

The Rossoneri are 12 points off the top of Serie A, but the full-back is sure they’ll soon return to competing for trophies.

“[Adriano] Galliani has built a competitive team,” Abate told Gazzetta dello Sport.

“Only Juventus and Napoli have something more. The squad is good, take Honda for example. He’s the balance at the moment, there has to be equilibrium.

“I take my hat off to him, he’s serious and intelligent and has crazy stamina. He’s still quite a reserved person, but he’s well-placed in the group.

“The team has a strong foundation, we’ll get to a respectable position. By that I mean the target is Europe.

“If you’re talking about the Champions League, until now we maybe haven’t shown we deserve it, but it’s not mission impossible.

“I laugh when I hear people talk about a weak League, the truth is that it’s balanced.”

The Diavolo have sacked three Coaches in the last two years, and Abate admits they’re looking for a bit of stability.

“I hope it doesn’t happen again, it’s hard to start again from scratch every year. I’m sorry for [last year’s Coach Filippo] Inzaghi, he’s a friend and he’ll be a great Coach.

“Now though I see a solid foundation to open a winning cycle.

“Mihajlovic? In the eyes of the team, and I speak for everyone, he’s a great man. He’s given us confidence and self-esteem, which is what we were missing.

“In Frosinone, at the break, we thought that he’d give us a going-over, but instead he gave us courage, speaking with great lucidity.

“We’ve all improved with Mihajlovic, in training there isn’t anyone who doesn’t give his all, and not because he threatens us.

“It’s his charisma, he doesn’t need to get angry. It’s very good, because it’s brought us all together even in the most difficult moments.

“His best quality is loyalty, he never surprises you, even if there’s something unpleasant. It’s a guarantee for us.

“It’s not good to see him in trouble, it makes the team feel under attack.”

President Silvio Berlusconi is on the verge of selling 48 per cent of the club to Bee Taechaubol, will the former Prime Minister step aside completely one day?

“For me it’s hard to imagine Milan without Berlusconi,” Abate considered.

“They’re inseperable, and although it’s already happened [elsewhere] I can’t imagine an Italian club in foreign hands.

“I hope he holds on tight to the majority, he’s the soul of this club, and for him nothing is impossible.

“That said, of course he’ll take the best decision for the club, I’m sure about that.”

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