Boateng: “This is a bit of a difficult period for me, but I am always thinking about the team first”

Kevin-Prince Boateng says playing without a trequartista limits his playing time and says that when he returned he found an insecure team.

Boateng signed a contract for six months in January but hasn’t really been able to show the fans and the club why he deserves to stay for next season as Sinisa Mihajlovic has so far put him on the bench for the majority of the matches.

“I have changed as a person. I am now more mature, rational,” Prince told the Milan Channel yesterday. “I have more experience than before. I’m not saying that’s always an advantage. Before I played with a clear head, I didn’t think too much, I just went out there and did what I wanted to do. Now maybe I think more, and maybe that holds me back a bit. I am trying to find the right balance of what I was like before and how I am now.

“My new role at Milan? I have a role that’s a bit different for me. I have always been a key player and I have always been a first team regular and so not playing as often has been a new experience. Personally this is a bit of a difficult period for me. However, I am always thinking about the team first.

“For example, before the derby I spent the whole week encouraging my teammates. What team I found when I returned? I was met by a team that was a bit unsure of itself, but that’s normal when you don’t always win. But we have improved a lot and we now have a young team but above all we play as one and that is important. I can assure our fans that we are a united group, despite the things that are said.

“Position on the pitch? For the coach it’s a bonus to have a versatile player like myself. The fact that we play without a trequartista penalizes me a bit but if I could choose my preferred role in a 4-4-2 formation I would say supporting striker. I have spoken to the coach and I am ready to play wherever he needs me.

“I’m in shape and I’m 100%. This weekend’s match with Atalanta will be hard because they play really well at home. But if we play our game we can do well. We have to come away with the win because we’re Milan and with all due respect for Atalanta, we are the stronger team.

“The Coppa Italia final against Juventus? No big speeches are needed to get us motivated for the Cup final. Everyone will be psyched up.” Boateng has about a month to prove he deserves to stay.