Mihajlovic:
“I chose Donnarumma because he has great technical and physical qualities, he’s better than Diego Lopez,” the Serbian said at today’s Press conference.
“I haven’t taken off Lopez because he conceded a goal in Turin, but because at the moment I see Donnarumma as better.
“They are two great goalkeepers with great personality and who are very reliable.
“Balotelli is injured so we have few choices. Playing with two forwards isn’t easy, if I start with two centre forwards and then have to change something, I don’t have any more substitutes.
“We are penalised from this perspective, when somebody recovers we will have more attacking potential.
“We thought we had resolved his problem before, but unfortunately a groin injury is a strange and fluctuating thing.
“Mario is still getting treatment and we’re hoping it will help him. I don’t know when he’ll be back.
“Niang trained with us yesterday, and I hope to be able to have him on the bench on Sunday.
“Menez has an infection and is taking antibiotics. I think he’ll be back in January or February.
“Boateng is training, he’ll be here until January and then we’ll decide. He’s training well, he can be a trequartista and is great at integrating himself and keeping the ball.
“If they tell me that with a 4-4-2 I would always score three goals I would instantly play two strikers.
“Unfortunately it’s not like this and then if I play two forwards and then have to change something, I would be in trouble. When everyone has recovered our formation in the future will be 4-4-2.
“I thought about the 4-3-1-2 because I was thinking about having Menez, who can do well as a trequartista. I’ve tried to find alternatives, but having not found them, it’s right to change the formation.
“In the 4-3-1-2 Cerci was an adapted second striker. With 4-3-3 or 4-4-2 he can instead play in his ideal role.
“He must improve his head and his attitude, but he’s an important player who’s able to beat his man and create superior numbers.
“It’s too soon to say Cerci is back, he must continue to work because I’m convinced he can do a lot better.
“We’re always working on set piece situations, we always give great importance to the dead ball. We’ve improved on this compared to last year.”
“The team is more compact now - At first we didn’t attack and didn’t defend, but now it’s going better,” he said at today’s Press conference.
“We’re conceding goals but the chances we’re giving away are fewer than in the past.
“We must look to win, if we know how to suffer now then the path will be all downhill when we have more choices from the injured players.
“We must suffer and win with the heart and spirit of a team.
“We’re conceding too many goals. I’d like to see the spirit shown in the final minutes against Sassuolo. The guys reacted well after conceding and tried to play, in the end we were rewarded.
“There are no easy matches in Italy, we saw that Chievo played well against Napoli. They are a combative team and we must live up to their attitude and then maybe our better technical skills will show.
“We’re playing at home and must show consistency and let the fear pass, this is a crucial match.
“Napoli have a great attacking potential, I don’t know if we can catch up with them. But we’ve not had Menez or Niang, one was our top scorer and the other did well last year.
“Of course I believe we can make the Champions League, Juve believe in bouncing back for the Scudetto, and us in coming back for the Champions League.”
