Football
Ben Gladwell, Italy correspondent 10y

Andrea Poli criticises Clarence Seedorf

AC Milan midfielder Andrea Poli says he is looking forward to working under Filippo Inzaghi after becoming the latest Rossoneri player to criticise his predecessor Clarence Seedorf.

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Milan secured the full transfer rights of Poli from Sampdoria this summer, much to the delight of the 24-year-old who cannot wait to get back in action and put a disappointing four months behind him.

Not only did he claim he suffered under the stewardship of Seedorf, but he was also left out of the Italy squad for the World Cup.

"I'm proud and fully motivated because Milan is like a family to me," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "I would like this club to be competing for what it deserves again and I think that [Inzaghi] can give us that identity.

"He's very enthusiastic and we're all desperate to bounce back. It's a match made in heaven."

Poli became the third person associated with Milan to criticise Seedorf after Giampaolo Pazzini and assistant coach Mauro Tassotti both aired grievances.

"After [Massimiliano] Allegri was sacked, we were all disappointed," Poli said. "Seedorf came in and he wanted to make changes which, in a moment like that, were difficult to absorb. I would have expected more in the way of dialogue from him.

"He just tried to impose his philosophy, but in such a difficult phase, talking a bit more with us would have helped everybody. We needed security and certainties."

Poli also blamed Seedorf for effectively ruining his chances of appearing at the World Cup for Italy.

"At the start of the season, I was the Milan player who had played the most minutes," he said. "Then Seedorf arrived, and I started playing less. In the last month-and-a-half, I hardly ever played, and for a player who has his sights set on playing for his national team, that wasn't a great help."

Poli has already put that disappointment behind him and believes Milan could follow the example of Roma and emerge from a disappointment to challenge for the Scudetto next season.

"I really hope so," he said. "[Jeremy] Menez and Alex are top international players and they're going to give us a hand. And without playing in Europe, that will give us even more time to work."

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