Costacurta criticises entire Milan squad’s mentality: “That’s a serious mistake”

By: Isak Möller

Billy Costacurta has shared his thoughts on Milan’s roller coaster from the derby win to the Ferencvaros defeat, criticising the players for their mentality.

The mood took a 180-degree turn on Thursday evening as Milan failed to build on their win against Inter, losing 2-0 to Ferencvaros at San Siro. Ruben Amorim criticised the players immediately after the game, and again took to strong language at Milanello yesterday.

The manager isn’t the only one who thought they did poorly either, as our fan ratings were very low across the board. In other words, it doesn’t feel like Amorim is just shifting the blame from himself, as also highlighted by the Milan legend Costacurta.

Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport this morning, Costacurta shared his thoughts on the difference between the derby display and the one against Ferencvaros. Above all, as he highlighted, the mentality wasn’t the right one and Milan paid the price.

Billy, how do you go from the euphoria of the derby to the tiredness of Thursday’s display against Ferencvaros?

“Having the same intensity as against Inter would have been difficult. But that’s the difference between a team that wins and one that doesn’t.”

Does this mean that the mid-week game should have been approached with the same attention as Saturday night?

“It’s normal that four days after a huge win like the one against Inter, some players think they have become stronger, and that’s a serious mistake. You think you have already reached a strong position, and it turns out to be fatal.

“You think you can do things easily, that you can always succeed, and that’s a mistake you can’t afford.”

Are there any practical examples?

“Musah, who lost the ball easily just a few minutes into the match. Diawara, who came out chest-first as a central defender, carrying the ball and then diving. Cisse, who insisted on receiving the ball with his feet without ever going deep, and many other details that make you think it was indeed superficial.

“I focused on these three, and that certainly doesn’t mean it was all their fault, but it was clear they didn’t enter the field with the right mentality.”

So is it the fault of the deputies?

“Musah, a deputy? I wouldn’t say so. The youngsters made mistakes, yes, but not just them. In my opinion, the worst player on the pitch was Rabiot, and I’m talking about a leader, one of the best midfielders in the world.

“So, the blame is equally distributed: the lads did poorly, but so did those who should go to them and say, ‘Let’s all wake up.’ Poor technical choices can be admitted and forgiven, but the attitude, no.

“It must always be the right one and certainly never superficial. Not if you play for Milan: I say this as someone attached to the team. I repeat: you must always play as if you are playing against Inter, always trying to cause problems for the opponent. Always.”

Cisse, by the way. He didn’t celebrate your first call-up to the national team in the best way. Is he ready for it?

“I understand coach Mancini’s decisions: Roberto also tries to scout. If there’s less choice than before, you try to develop someone under your guidance.”

Is a winning mentality something that can be acquired?

“Of course, with many techniques. You can leave a player out for two games and then see if he’s understood. Or, with someone else, put him back in right away because you expect him to understand immediately.

“And then you can explain: explain that at that moment you weren’t in the right place, you didn’t have the right mentality.”

What if they don’t respond?

“If you have the chance to play for a team like Milan and you don’t have the desire and determination to face every match as if it were a derby, you should stay home. Or simply stay on the bench.”

Does that exonerate the coach?

“Amorim probably didn’t fully grasp the situation, otherwise why field such a team? The first half was unwatchable. It’s also true that there’s a difference between technique and attitude: perhaps the players trained well in the previous days but then completely misjudged their approach.”

On the contrary, is there an example of someone who does things right?

“I’d say Pavlovic, always alert, with the attitude everyone should have. As a starter, it might be easier to find it, but at the same time, those who have a chance should spit fire, ‘ruining’ the pitch when called upon.”