Milan Assistant Coach Mauro Tassotti explains why Alex started the Derby della Madonnina

Milan Assistant Coach Mauro Tassotti has explained why Alex was brought in to start the Derby della Madonnina against Internazionale. The 32 year-old centre-back has been on the bench for the last four Serie A matches and hasn’t started since Milan’s 0-0 draw with Chievo Verona in February. Italy international Gabriel Paletta has instead been […]
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sambafoot_admin
2015-04-19 23:54:00

Milan Assistant Coach Mauro Tassotti has explained why Alex was brought in to start the Derby della Madonnina against Internazionale.

The 32 year-old centre-back has been on the bench for the last four Serie A matches and hasn’t started since Milan’s 0-0 draw with Chievo Verona in February.

Italy international Gabriel Paletta has instead been preferred alongside Frenchman Philippe Mexès by Head Coach Filippo Inzaghi and the Rossoneri’s form has improved with draws against Hellas Verona and Sampdoria and wins over Cagliari and Palermo.

Despite those results however, Milan have not kept a clean sheet since the aforementioned draw against Chievo and with that in mind, Tassotti believes putting Alex back in next to Mexès could lead to more defensive solidity. 

“Alex showed in training that he’s in very good shape,” he told Sky Sport Italia before the derby with Inter, as reported by website Football Italia. “He was important for many years at big clubs and we consider him a first choice. He hasn’t been playing as often recently due to physical problems.”

“We continue to concede a few too many goals and we’d like to keep a clean sheet.”

Alex was signed by Milan on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain in July 2014.

The former Brazil international – capped 15 times between 2002 and 2008 – has featured 18 times in all competitions so far this season and is contracted until June 2016.

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