ROME (AFP) - AC Milan players have rallied behind
team-mate Alberto Gilardino ahead of Wednesday's trip to lowly
Reggina.
Gilardino looked a disconsolate figure on Sunday when he spent the
entire match against Genoa on the bench, even suffering the
ignominy of stripping off and waiting on the touchline only to be
told at the last moment that Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti had
changed his mind and would not be introducing him to the
fray.
A lot has been made of Gilardino's dissatisfaction in the Italian
press with some suggesting his days at Milan are numbered.
But his team-mates have jumped to his defence, including injured
forward Filippo Inzaghi, who himself has often faced long spells on
the bench.
"I would advise Gilardino to stay, he knows what I think," Pippo
told Sky Sport. "He and I are great friends, also off the
pitch.
"He and Pato are the future of Milan and they will make us dream.
Sometimes you have to have hard times, I had them too when I was at
Juventus.
"Despite scoring in one match I could find myself on the bench the
next game.
"He has to believe in his potential and know that everyone wants
him to succeed.
"No one is happy sitting on the bench, it's normal to feel angry,
but always in the right way.
"He has played his part, he has the numbers (good goal-scoring
record), he doesn't have anything to prove to anyone, he should
stay and I'm sure he will."
Gilardino came off the bench 10 days ago to score a vital
injury-time winner against Udinese and followed that up a week ago
by starting against Atalanta.
But he failed to shine and did not even get off the bench against
Genoa.
One reason for that is the fine form of new teenage striker Pato,
who has bagged three goals in his first four games for the club,
including both goals in the 2-0 win over Genoa on Sunday.
He is likely to get the nod again on Wednesday as Milan try to take
another step closer to their ultimate goal of finishing fourth by
winning one of their two remaining games in hand.
They will have to do so without Brazilian forward Ronaldo once
again as he is still suffering from a muscle problem in his leg,
his third different leg injury this season.
"At this moment in time, if I can I will try to be ready for the
match next weekend against Fiorentina," said 'Il Fenomeno'.
"I hope this will be the case because in this period we have many
important matches and Milan needs everyone and I want to be ready
to play."
Ronaldo also had some words of encouragement for Gilardino.
"Anyone can have good or bad times but we always have to remember
that the important thing is the good of the team," he added.
"Milan started the season really badly and now we're trying to
recover, with the help of everyone, also with Gilardino's help who
came on to score the winner against Udinese."
A win would see Milan move above Sampdoria into sixth place and
close to within three points of fifth-placed Udinese.
Reggina could put some daylight between themselves and the
relegation zone if they pick up the three points.