Following a 2-1 win over Sassuolo in the Round of 16 Coppa Italia clash at the Stadio Meazza, match-winner Nigel De Jong finds it necessary to win the cup in order to return to Europe.
The Dutchman was also relieved to get the first win of 2015 out of the way, and expects the squad to improve over the coming months.
“It was important to get back to winning,” he told Milan Channel.
“It is the first victory of the new year, but we now have to think immediately about the championship and the match against Atalanta.”
The 30-year-old was happy to find the back of the net on Tuesday night, but maintains that the win was more important.
“I’m happy [about the goal], but the most important thing is to win. We must continue to work to improve.
“Our aim is to finish third in the league. We are happy after yesterday’s victory, but we now have to think of Atalanta.”
The former Manchester City and Ajax player has also expressed his happiness towards Pazzini, who managed to score his first goal of the season for the Rossoneri.
“I’m happy for him as he did not play much until now, but is an important player for the team. We hope he scores in the next game too. We have to win the Coppa Italia as it will help us qualify for Europe.”
Milan currently sit eighth in Serie A and five points off the all-important third place with a game against relegation-threatened Atalanta looming on Sunday at the San Siro.
