The Italy striker feels the Dutchman’s trophy-laden time spent on the pitch will go a long way in getting the struggling Serie A side’s season back on track
Clarence Seedorf’s magnificent playing career can inspire AC Milan’s players on to great things, according to star striker Mario Balotelli.
The Italy front man, speaking at a launch event for the PUMA evoPOWER boot, said he is delighted to be working with the new Milan boss and explained why he believes Seedorf’s impact can make a huge difference to the stuttering Rossoneri.
“I’m really happy he has come. He’s a good person and was a fantastic player, so he knows his football,” said Balotelli. “He won four Champions Leagues with three different clubs – I think that’s the most important thing [for the players to remember].
“It’s good because he knows how to play football. When you have someone who has played football before and has won so much, maybe you listen more.”
The Dutchman took the reins at Milanello in mid-January following the sacking of Massimiliano Allegri. With the ex-Cagliari boss in charge, Milan had recorded only five league wins in 19 fixtures this season, and Balotelli says it was natural that Allegri would eventually pay the price.
“I don’t know why it didn’t work out. When a team doesn’t play well and teams don’t succeed, it’s normal that a coach is sacked. It happens to every club and this time it has happened to him. But Allegri did very well in his time at Milan and everybody is happy with what he did. Now we have to think about Seedorf; Seedorf has to think about Milan, and we’ll start again.”
While Balotelli believes Cristiano Ronaldo was a worthy winner of the 2013 Ballon d’Or, he wants to be a candidate himself in the future – but not if it takes something away from his team.
“Of course it is an ambition for everybody, and it is certainly an ambition for me, but I think about the team, not about myself,” he insisted.
“I know what I want when I’m in the dressing room: everything is about the team. It’s not me winning, it’s the team winning. It’s not me losing, it’s the team losing. You have to think as a team – even Lionel Messi and Ronaldo put their teams first.”