MX23RW : Saturday, December 21 08:43:33| >> :120:5274:5274:

Sinisa Mihajlovic: 'Mario Balotelli still needs to improve'

AC Milan coach Sinisa Mihajlovic says that Mario Balotelli is still not ready to play 90 minutes despite an impressive display in a friendly on Thursday.

AC Milan coach Sinisa Mihajlovic has said that Mario Balotelli still needs to improve his fitness despite the striker's impressive display on his return to San Siro on Thursday.

Back at Milan on a season-long loan from Liverpool, Balotelli scored a long-range opener, set up another goal and won a penalty as the Rossoneri beat fourth division side Modena 3-2 in a friendly on Thursday.

However, despite Milan vice-president Adrian Galliani praising the striker's attitude since his return to Italy, Mihajlovic insists that the Italian's performance does not mean that he is ready to play 90 minutes regularly in Serie A.

"He has not played for a while and he still has to improve," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"He is training well and his physical tests are satisfactory, but he is three kilograms overweight; he is on a diet and when he is ready he will play."

Milan face city rivals Inter in their first match after the international break.

ID:244043: cacheID:244043:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2145:
Written by
Tom Nightingale
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Liverpool's Italian striker Mario Balotelli gives a thumbs up after scoring Liverpool's third goal during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur at the Anfield stadium in Liverpool, northwest England, on February
Read Next:
Kaka urges Mario Balotelli improvement
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
6pm
Texans
@
Chiefs
9.30pm
Steelers
@
Ravens
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool15113131131836
2Chelsea16104237191834
3Arsenal1686229151430
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest168442119228
5Manchester CityMan City168352823527
6Bournemouth167452421325
7Aston Villa167452425-125
8Fulham166642422224
9Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton166642625124
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1672736191723
11Brentford167273230223
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle166552321223
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd166462119222
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham165472129-819
15Crystal Palace163761721-416
16Everton153661421-715
17Leicester CityLeicester163582134-1314
18Ipswich TownIpswich162681628-1212
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1623112440-169
20Southampton1612131136-255


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!