Montella's view: Five answers from the AC Milan coach ahead of the game

Milan coach Vincenzo Montella should know Roma well - having played for the Giallorossi for a number of seasons.

See what he had to say about Sunday's game; we've picked out five key answers from the former striker...

On Roma...

“Roma will have been hurt by the derby result. But I know that they have players with great quality and character. I hope we don’t find them in an angry mood; it’ll be a tough game if that’s the case. They are fighting to get into second spot and, until relatively recently, were in the running for the Scudetto. We need to make sure we’re angrier than they are, to make the game ours.”

On Luciano Spalletti...

“Of course, he’s very astute tactically and he can make changes to his team during matches. When you’re up against him, you always need to be very focused. From one moment to the next he can pick up a new idea.”

On Francesco Totti...

“We developed a good relationship over time. We get on really well, because we don’t keep in contact. We see each other often because our wives meet up. There’s a great deal of respect and appreciation. I don’t know whether it’ll be his last game at the San Siro. He’s done great things at the San Siro – so I hope he doesn’t play. He’s made history, for Roma and Italian football more widely. I hope he makes the best choice possible, and that he can do so with great calm.”

On the approach to the game...

“We come into the game off the back of two terrible results. We need to get more points that we’ve picked up in our last two away games against them, when we’ve played well but only picked up one point. We need to get something out of this game. I’ve said that the games against Roma and Atalanta are easier, so to speak, because we struggle against teams that stay tight.

"We express ourselves better against teams that are more open and try to win. Tactically the boys can go out there and show their quality. It’s difficult to stay patient against a team like Crotone.”

On the line-up...

“I like to draw from what I have at my disposal and get the best from that. We’re missing [Ignazio] Abate and [Giacomo] Bonaventura. The latter has got himself into the national side and has key qualities. The right flank was an area where we were dangerous in the reverse fixture. We don’t have another player like Abate in the squad. He’s almost like an auxiliary winger, which also gives Suso more space.

"I’ve had to make a few changes, but these things happen. [Carlos] Bacca is okay – I’ll need to make a call on him. He’s training well, even though in the last two games he hasn’t started. I’ll make a choice at the last moment. He’s very competitive indeed.

"On the decision to pick [Gianluca] Lapadula in the last few games? There are the technical and tactical elements, but also the physical aspect to consider. I think he’s in better shape than in January and February, when he had a few knocks.”