GATTUSO: "EMPOLI IS A MUST-WIN GAME"
The boss was back at the regular press conference on the eve of the game with just over 24 hours until kick-off in Empoli. Rino Gattuso previewed the game with the conference aired live on Milan TV and Facebook. Here's a full transcript of what he had to say:
EMPOLI GAME
"We must win, I'm not looking for the perfect match but I want to take home the three points. It won't be easy, they are good at moving the ball around and they strikers make the right movement. We really need a win".
ON AND OFF THE BALL
"We hadn't scored at home to Atalanta in two years, but we wanted to win it. We played the game we had to play, but all of sudden we stopped and they had seven shots in the space of 25 minutes. We struggle when we have to run deep and track back. Too many times it looks like we don't like running but we also need to learn how to do the things we don't like. When on the ball we know what to do. We need a change in mentality when off the ball. We don't have time to wait, we are lacking some grit".
THE TEAM'S MENTALITY
"We are leaving too many points behind, but we are not doing that bad. We need to keep believing in our qualities. I agree with the club: we need to improve our fifth-sixth place mentality and remedy mistakes that are preventing us from playing with continuity. At times we should be more clinical. We are lacking belief, it happens that we are afraid we won't win, as it happened against Atalanta".
THE TEAM
"Last season we would win games from leading situation, while this year we concede goals. My teams have always conceded few goals, this is what we need to improve. We need better organisation. What we are doing is not enough, but we mustn't let ourselves down. Mistakes can happen but we have to continue working being always 100 percent focused. We are not a top team yet and there's not much time".
THE INDIVIDUALS
"Bonaventura has football in its soul, great technique but is also a physical player. Higuain had a light flexor injury, we'll see how he his tomorrow. It was the first day we had Cutrone back in the fold today. He tried changes of direction in training and all went well: we are pleased to have him back, he's important for us. Romagnoli is wise beyond his years, Biglia is not a very talkative guy but everyone listens to him when he has to say something, Reina looks he's been with us for a long time. Caldara has an inflammation in his groin but today he was back running. I always liked Suso; he hasn't been scoring much but I would be really pleased if he keeps making two assists in every game. I think he'll end his goal drought soon. He's doing well and has to keep up the good work.
(Photo Getty Images)
