Polski Sport

AC Milan manager Marco Giampaolo has said that Krzysztof Piatek remains the Rossoneri’s prolific striker and the club can’t do without him despite his average start to the season. The Poland international scored a combined 30 goals for Genoa and AC Milan respectively during the previous campaign but he has struggled this term with just two goals to date.

Despite this, Giampaolo has continued to keep the faith in the striker and speaking in a press conference, he said: “Milan can’t do without their most prolific striker, even though he has failed to score several times this season. Otherwise, who will score? I have to trust Kris, though it’s obvious over the course of a long season that he might have to be rested at times. He must stay in and suffer and take responsibility. The most important players must stay in the trenches.”

Piatek wore the number 19 shirt for the Rossoneri during the backend of the previous campaign but he chose to change to the iconic number 9 jersey ahead of the current season. The shirt number has proved a curse since the departure of Filippo Inzaghi with Alexandre Pato, Andre Silva, Gonzalo Higuain among others failing to impress and Piatek will be hoping that he does not succumb to the same fate,

Milan went into the international break on a high as they secured a 2-1 triumph over Genoa on the road. The game was far from straightforward with both teams having two players sent off and Pepe Reina was eventually the gamechanger. The Spain international gifted Genoa with a 93rd penalty to level the scores but he managed to instantly redeem himself to deny Lasse Schone from 12 yards.

With the victory, the Rossoneri ended a three-match losing streak in the Serie A and they have accumulated nine points from the opening seven games. They still have plenty of hard work to do with a four-point gap already to the top four and a route to the Champions League next term. Milan return from the international break with a home game against newcomers Lecce and they should be fancied to secure maximum points.