- Gennaro Gattuso encouraged frustrated players to ‘slap me’ on Sunday night
- Milan got their fourth win in five games with a 2-1 win against high-flying Lazio
- Giacomo Bonaventura hit home on the brink of half-time at the San Siro to win it
- The erratic boss could risk further squad disharmony as he eyes new signings
Gennaro Gattuso has brought an unpredictability to AC Milan since taking charge of the Rossoneri after the departure of Vincenzo Montella in November.
And while the club remain languished seventh in Serie A after a largely mediocre season, the erratic head coach offered some bizarre stress relief for his frustrated players: he told them to slap him.
After a hard-fought 2-1 win against Lazio, Milan’s players all huddled together on the pitch as their jovial mood saw Gattuso clipped over and over by his brave stars.
Gennaro Gattuso invited his frustrated AC Milan players to slap him after the win over Lazio
Gattuso has been unpredictable since taking over the San Siro hotseat from Vincenzo Montella
‘I just want to make them (my team) happy,’ he said after escaping the melee with his players.
‘Especially the players who are angry with me because they are on the bench, so now they have chance to slap me.’
The impressive result against third-placed Lazio did constitute the club’s fourth win in five matches as the Italian giants target a return to Champions League football.
Giacomo Bonaventura won it on the night at the San Siro after Milan’s opener through Patrick Cutrone was cancelled out by Lazio’s Montenegro midfielder Adam Marusic.
Milan have endured a stuttering campaign but the win was their fourth in the last five games
Giacomo Bonaventura scored the winning goal for Milan on the stroke of half-time on Sunday
Milan remain in the Europa League and face Lazio once more as they play the first-leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final on Wednesday.
And with plenty to play for in Milan, Gattuso is looking to risk further discontent by adding to his squad before Wednesday’s transfer deadline.
Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge has been heavily linked with a move to Italy with both AC Milan and fierce rivals Inter assessing the forward on a loan deal.
But 24-year-old midfielder Suso looked to rule out a return to Merseyside as he insisted he is firmly focused on playing for an ‘historic’ club like AC Milan.
Gattuso is looking to risk further discontent among his squad by adding new faces in January