Galliani: “Hard to understand our situation, players are behind Miha, Balotelli has immense desire to stay”

Adriano Galliani is ‘asking’ everyone why things aren’t working out for Milan and says Mario Balotelli has promised him he will try to convince Milan to keep him for the next season.

The second round of Serie A started well for Milan but things took a serious turn at the match against Sassuolo as the Rossoneri haven’t won a match since the Coppa Italia semi-final tie with Alessandria on the 1st of March (they won 5-0).

After losing to Atalanta on Sunday, Milan went on a training retreat, which will go on at least until the match on Saturday against Juventus. In the past few days there have been vocals conversations at Milanello, with people – like joint-CEO and Vice President Adriano Galliani – looking for answers for this poor form.

“The conversation with the team this week? When I spoke to the team at the start of the week, I told them that I have tried to analyze the situation as a manager,” Galliani told the press on Thursday. “I told them that it’s hard to understand how in the second half of the season, we had four games against four teams ahead of us and we beat Fiorentina and Inter and drew with Roma and Napoli.

“While versus the teams behind us in the table we have dropped a lot of points. We also spoke about the fact that after the international breaks this season we have only picked up 1 point from 5 games. I am asking myself the reasons why and I have asked the coach and the players too. Last year they said we were weak and dropped points against the big teams, this year it’s the opposite. 

“It’s hard to understand, there are players who the public say aren’t good enough, then they go away and do well. I always say the same things and it’s needless to talk again on the qualities of this squad, which is able to beat the big teams, but loses with the smaller ones.

“Mihajlovic? We are all close to the coach and we are united with him. The club chose him and he has a 2 year contract here. Let’s allow him to work in peace. The players are behind him. After 30 years in this game, I realise when a team is with the coach or not. We have to pick up points and results.

“Milan-Juventus? If Juventus win the title, there will also be a third meeting with the Bianconeri in addition to Saturday’s league clash and the Cup final in the Italian Super Cup. But, one step at a time and let’s focus on this Saturday first of all. We cannot just rely on the Cup final, which is like a Russian roulette, and so we’ve to qualify for Europe via the league & make up the points we’ve dropped in recent games. 

“Balotelli? Mario is now fit and he has an immense desire to stay here at the club. I hope he shows that with his performances. He wants to stay here, but I told him that based on what he has shown up until now, he doesn’t deserve to stay. I told him to convince me that he should stay, seeing as we want the best for him. He has promised me he will do that and I hope he does so.

“Manuel Locatelli? I wouldn’t be surprised if he makes his debut. We have Riccardo Montolivo injured, Andrea Bertolacci is suspended, so the coach can only choose between him, Jose Mauri and Andrea Poli [to play alongside the returning Kucka]. If players are part of the squad, it means they can play for Milan.”

Many fans think that the man responsible for Milan’s poor performances – not only in the past month but in the last years – is Galliani himself. But in the meantime, he’s looking for answers.