Allegri: Balotelli 'must change' to be a champion

Posted Wednesday, September 25, 2013 by YAHOO Sport

AC Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri has warned star striker Mario Balotelli to stop behaving like a child and start acting like a champion.

The Italy international was sent off in the Rossoneri's 2-1 defeat against table-toppers Napoli on Sunday, which will see him miss the next three domestic matches, including a Serie A clash with Juventus.

Allegri, who told his January signing publicly to "shut up" following the game, has insisted that Balotelli must be given more protection from officials in the future but accepted that the striker needs to take it upon himself not to react rashly and cost his teammates.

"Mario has made a mistake, penalizing the team, club and the fans and he must change this," the coach told media Tuesday. "Balotelli should help referees to protect him because if another player had suffered the fouls he did on Sunday then they would have whistled. The referees should be left alone because they can be influenced by negative attitudes.

"Mario is 23 years old. He is no longer a child, and to be a champion you have to have a correct behavior because you are an example for all those who look up to you. I hope for him he benefits from it and realizes that he's put the team and the club in difficulty.

"You have to go on the pitch thinking about doing well. When you finish the game, you need to go in the dressing room, accept what happened and think of working to do better. The club will decide what to do about Mario."

Milan faces Bologna on Wednesday as it bids to bounce back from the defeat that leaves it in 11th place in Serie A.