AC Milan vs Torino - I know I can't please everyone, admits Milan boss Montella

Posted Saturday, November 25, 2017 by PA

Vincenzo Montella is relieved he can stop worrying about AC Milan's European exertions and focus properly on fixing their erratic form in Serie A.

The Rossoneri qualified for the last 32 of the Europa League by thrashing Austria Vienna 5-1 on Thursday, but there will be little respite for a team sitting a poor seventh in the Italian championship.

Head coach Montella did secure himself some more time in the hot seat by ending a run of three straight defeats - however, Milan have lost to both Juventus and Napoli in recent weeks.

Before hosting Torino - a point behind in eighth - Montella was once again working out which line-up should fare best in the league after watching some regular under-performers thrive against Vienna.

"We have some players who are not 100 per cent fit but overall the condition of the team is good," he told a pre-match press conference, carried by Milan's Twitter account.

"Now we can fully focus on the league.

"Giacomo Bonaventura has proved to be an important player, but unfortunately he has struggled to get into peak condition.

"Like (Lucas) Biglia and (Ivan) Kalinic, he needs to play more to reach his true potential.

"Andre Silva has started half of the matches we have played this season. As the coach I must know how to choose the right players according to the opponent and the type of match.

"I know my choices will never please everyone."

Full-back Andrea Conti is a long-term absentee due to a knee injury, while defender Davide Calabria will sit out as he continues to recover from a blow to the skull.

Torino have no injury or suspension concerns and arrive at San Siro looking to build on a three-match unbeaten run and overtake Milan to edge closer to the Europa League places.

To do so they will likely need the usually prolific Andrea Belotti to return to goal-scoring ways. The Italy striker notched 26 times in Serie A last term but has three goals after eight games this season.

Belotti, who has failed to score since September, told La Gazzetta dello Sport: "My goals will come back. It's not an obsession for me.

"I think it will be a tough game as it always is when you're at San Siro. Milan have bought some great players but with so many new arrivals, their coach needs time to discover his team."