Milan is in Athens to face AEK Athens in the next match of the Europa League. They will be looking for a victory in order to confirm their position as first in the group and to bring some light to a tough period. Vincenzo Montella spoke about the match and the state of the team at his pre-match press conference, "I am smiling because here in Greece they look at us as if we are dormant, but we are not. AEK is having a great group stage, very fast, awake and they adapt to who they are playing. They are a challenging opposition but Milan is superior and we must demonstrate it. We are here to confirm first place in the group. We have a duty to honor the competition and we must finish in first place in order to give us an advantage in the knockout stages draw. It is true that we are going slow in terms of results and the others are off to an incredible start, but I believe in a trend reversal."
On the possibility of Milan beginning another great cycle in Athens, which has been an important city in their history, "It began in June when there was a renewal, the club wants to revive Milan and bring them back to splendor. There was a revolution, in important cycles great results are created by how the team reacts to difficult moments. I think the team is reacting, obviously we are in need of results and I must pass on to Fassone that the mode in which we work on in training is the same in which we conduct our matches. Our terrain is fertile and can produce. My future? I am calm, I do not know why but I do know that I must work. I am not unconscious, I know the risks of my trade and the society backs me."
