“Happy New Year to all the fans first of all. We could have been further ahead after the first half and then we suffered a bit in the second before we got the other two goals to make sure of the win. I’m really happy for Kakà’s getting his century as it’s a fantastic thing. Also for Cristante making his debut as he’s still a teenager and should be a youth team player. He’s going nowhere. I already spoke to him and his agent and he won’t be moving. He’ll carve out some space for himself here. He scored a similar goal in the UEFA Youth League against Barcelona. We have another player born in the 90’s on the right wing and he’s not doing bad at all. We’re starting to bring some youth players through to the first team and that’s pleasing. Kakà also got his 101st goal for the club and I can still remember his first goal back in 2003 with an assist from Gattuso. That was 10 years ago. 101 goals from a player in his position is a lot and underlines his class.
Ancelotti sent me a message of congratulations for Kakà’s goal and that was very nice. Right from the player’s first training session, he knew he’d become a champion. I’ll pat myself on the back for having left for Madrid without even making an appointment with Real president Florentino Perez and wemanaged to bring him back home here. He and his family are happy here. He’s shown the love that he has for this jersey through his deeds and also by agreeing to reduce his salary. Kissing the crest is easy but taking a pay cut is less so.
This season we’re playing three competitions and we’re through to the final 16 of the most important one, the Champions League. We’re not doing well in the league as we’re mid-table and the third completion hasn’t started yet. We’ll see where we are at the end of the season.
The fans were in a bad mood today, booing at every misplaced pass. Matri did well and he needs to get back scoring. He will and the boos don’t help. He’s a product of our Youth Sector along with Abate, De Sciglio and Cristante. That makes four. An appeal to the fans: Matri is not just an ex-Juventus player, he’s a product of our Youth Sector and the booing doesn’t help. He’ll get back scoring.
Honda said he’ll be happy when he’s playing well and helping the team to win. He has character and he want to win. He’s an incredible professional. He only drinks water and he’s attentive with what he eats and very focused. I think he’ll do well. It’s sad to see the club in 10th place but we won’t be there at the end of the season.
We have a couple of players on the way out. We want to send Gabriel out to get experience for 6 months and the same is true for Vergara. Even Dida spent two years in Brazil getting experience before playing for us. Zaccardo might leave but unless someone leaves, no one else will come in. We have topo many players. We have to show the courage need to have faith ion younger players. We have Cristante in the middle and I know that Muntari and Montolivo will be suspended for the Champions League. At the moment, there are no market moves being made. We got Rami and Honda early so maybe they’re not being seen as new signings. Now we need to get to 25 points with a win over Sassuolo. That’s not all that much but we’ll see what we can do for the second half of the season. Honda will be presented to the press on Wednesday and that’s being highly anticipated in Japan.”

"My father worked in Canada and that’s where my name comes from. I joined Milan when I was 14 and I made my way through all the youth teams and now I’m in the First Team.
I was available for selection for the derby but the coach made other choices. I try to work as best I can and show what I can do. That’s what I have to do. At the start of the match, it was a very tight game, very closed but we did well once we started to make some space. I always train well and I hope I’ll have more chances to play. I’m happy playing wide in the middle and I’ll do whatever the coach asks me to do. It’s definitely pleasing that the club wants to keep me here. I just want to keep on pushing ahead and grow as best I can. Today was emotional, my first match at the San Siro. I’m very happy with my debut and we’re a good group. Balotelli told me to stay calm ahead of the match.”