Ignazio Abate has reflected on his time at AC Milan with his one regret being the inability to hold on to the Scudetto after 2011.
The 28-year-old is likely to start from the bench in Sunday’s Derby della Madonnina against Inter, but is under no illusions as to the meaning of the fixture.
“The passion is amazing,” he told Forza Milan. “I came from the youth team and have been with the club for 18 years.
“I did everything with the aim of getting into the first team. It is normal to fall in love with this club, with this city and with these colours.
“It isn’t good to see a half empty San Siro. I remember when I was a ball boy for Ancelotti’s team, at that time the stadium was really packed.
“I do not think Pippo [Filippo Inzaghi] has changed the team physically in two or three months, rather he worked so hard on the mentality of each of us.
“Fortunately, I say it in quotation marks, this year we don’t have to play in a European cup so we can concentrate on playing just one game a week.
“I would prefer to play every three days, especially if to get to play every Wednesday in the Champions League.
“Because, in the end you can train as much as you want, but playing a game over 90 minutes gives you a lot more rhythm, something which training cannot.
Abate then reflected on how much Milan has changed over the years since Carlo Ancelotti left the club in 2009.
“When Ancelotti left, a very big pillar in the locker room was removed,” the full-back stated.
“With Leonardo had a very good year, but after the season we started again from scratch with [Massimiliano] Allegri.
“I remember early on we had lots of problems. We didn’t have a good preseason, but then [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic and Robinho arrived in the final few days of the transfer window and brought incredible enthusiasm.
“My biggest regret is not being able to retain the Serie A title with Allegri. We definitely had the potential to keep the Scudetto.
“Another regret is the elimination from Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-final, as there was lots of discussion over the penalty.”
