Coach Gennaro Gattuso continues to ignore former captain Riccardo Montolivo even when AC Milan have only two midfielders available.
The Rossoneri have forgotten how to win. After two consecutive draws in Serie A against Torino and Bologna and the unprecedented elimination from Europa League against Olympiacos, Milan lose again. Fiorentina takes three points at San Siro and Lazio now occupy the fourth place in the standings.
It’s obvious that Milan is in crisis and Gattuso himself has admitted after the match. Clearly he’s the man in charge and must take responsibility for his actions and choices and one of his most controversial decisions has been the exclusion of Montolivo in a time when half of AC Milan’s midfield is fighting with injuries. Even today, Rino preferred to use Calabria as central midfielder rather then the former Italy international.
Giovanni Branchini, the agent of Riccardo Montolivo, spoke about the midfielder’s lack of game time this season hitting out at Gattuso for this treatment. “The coach’s decision not to take him into consideration must be respected even if it has exceeded the limits of logic. I do not want to talk about impropriety or mobbing, but it’s hard to think that Montolivo has become the twenty-seventh footballer for Milan.
Montolivo, former captain of AC Milan, has not made a single appearance since May. Something incredible considering that he continues to be paid 2,5 million euros per year by the club. Many have speculated the reason behind this treatment is Montolivo’s refusal to be sold last summer. “It’s a fact that from May 13 he has not played a single match and not even a training match, I know only that Montolivo has never refused any transfer”, said Branchini.
