AC Milan manager Clarence Seedorf has come to the defence of Mario Balotelli following his performance against Roma on Saturday evening.

The striker was heavily criticised by the media for his part in the club's 2-0 defeat at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome and clashed with journalists after the match.

"You are always ready to exalt at the negative aspects of Balotelli," Seedorf told Sky Sport Italia.

"[This is after] coming from positive weeks [when] it was more about his goals than his behaviour.

"I could have put him in with Pazzini but I chose to do it like so. (Keisuke) Honda had given everything, coming back from two weeks out. If [Balotelli] was nervous? No, it seemed fair to me to give space to [Giampaolo] Pazzini."

Balotelli has scored 14 goals in Serie A for Milan this season.