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Roberto Donadoni believes AC Milan’s captain Mike Maignan could have sent a better message, while he isn’t worried about friendly results. It has not exactly been a peaceful few days for Milan, with the club having been rocked by the passing of Franco Baresi too. The heavy defeat against Chelsea and the delayed returns of Mike Maignan and Adrien Rabiot have already begun to call various aspects of the project into question. Read SempreMilan ad-free and get access to exclusive news. Click here for a free trial! In addition to that, the management are struggling to offload players and that is making it difficult to sanction the remaining signings required to give head coach Ruben Amorim the best chance of success in year one. Donadoni spoke to La Gazzetta dello Sport, and he revealed his belief that preseason results aren’t very important. After the World Cup, the players need a break to recover in his eyes, ahead of another testing campaign. Milan’s preseason has started without a win. Not a good sign, especially considering the 3-0 defeat to Chelsea in Jakarta… “For a few years now, high-level matches have been happening in July, and when the conditions are as they are, it can be easy to lose badly. Especially when you’re facing a big team like Chelsea and your internationals are in poor condition or even completely absent. “I don’t see it as a warning sign because these, thousands of kilometres from Italy, are pseudo-exhibitions. Obviously, losing doesn’t please anyone, but when there aren’t three points at stake…” Maignan and Rabiot were granted extra days off, and many fans weren’t happy about it. Some would like Mike to be stripped of his captain’s armband… These are agreements between the club and those who took part in the World Cup. I won’t get into the controversy, but a bit of a break is needed because mental fatigue can be more severe than physical fatigue. “If managed correctly, extra days of rest and a few fewer training sessions can be an advantage. When they return, they’ll have to deliver significant results on the pitch.” Will Maignan and Rabiot be able to make the difference like last year? “Two players like them raise the bar for the team in terms of performance because they are two top players. As a Milan fan, I hope Maignan doesn’t make the difference because it would mean he’s… less pressed than last season. Rabiot is one of the cornerstones of the team, in whatever position he plays.” Don’t you think that as captain, with the season just around the corner, Maignan was wrong to ask for four extra days off? “If he had returned earlier, perhaps by cutting his vacation short, he would have made a significant contribution, especially since there’s a new coach and the captain has an important role. “But then you have to understand the psychological and mental stress of a difficult season that ended with a double disappointment for both Maignan and Rabiot. Don’t forget that players work even on vacation. I’m confident they’ll be ready.” Is Amorim the right choice? “He’s a new coach who needs to be given time to work.” After the defeat against Chelsea, the Portuguese said that that wasn’t the real Milan… “I hope so too and I’m convinced of it because they didn’t play badly against Inter.” Compared to last year, the transformation in terms of tactical requests is notable… “Every coach has his own ideas. When asked to win the ball back high and play attacking football, the players need to get used to it. Especially if the style of play was very different. Modric’s confirmation is an important starting point for the group.” Will the new signings help? “They’ll certainly bring a breath of fresh air. Gila and Gonçalo Ramos are undoubtedly talented players, but if you ask me what the transfer market is like, it’s too early.” Leao has stayed, for now… “If an offer that satisfies the player and the club doesn’t arrive, continuing must be a motivation for Rafa: he’ll have to prove that those who criticised him were wrong, but to do that he needs more consistency than in the past. He has the talent. It’s up to him.”