Marotta: “Let’s end 2016 in style”

Sights set on Super Cup

“2016 has been an extraordinary year and we want to cap it off in the best possible way by winning what would also be the first silverware of the season.

“It won’t be easy. It’s a final and Milan are a top opponent who are doing very well. In a complicated period, they’ve done well to be up there in the table with ourselves, Roma and Napoli.

“We’ll need to be up to the task. We want to add another trophy to our cabinet and do so by making the most of the strengths we’ve always had: cohesion, calmness and confidence." 

Milan depart for Doha a day later 

“(Milan CEO) Adriano Galliani is a wise and experienced football director and I’m sure he’ll know how to overcome this particular hitch.

“We’ve respected the timetable, but I don’t think that arriving 24 hours earlier or later will change much. There are actually some theories that suggest it’s better to arrive closer to the game. Nonetheless, what’s happened can be considered a lesson to learn from in the future.”

January transfer window

“It’s difficult to imagine much happening in January, as it’s difficult to find a player who can come in and raise the quality of a group such as ours at this point of a season.

“Of course, we’re working all the time to invest in young talents who deserve to be given a chance. We’ve spoken to Atalanta, but not only them.

“There’s no news regarding (Axel) Witsel. He’s a good player, let’s wait and see what happens. All I can say is that we’re a stable club with an ever growing revenue and economic strength that has enabled noteworthy investments of late such as the transfers of Gonzalo Higuain and Miralem Pjanic. The club’s objectives go in tandem with those of the team.”

New Year aims

“We want to win the Super Cup, after which we continue to set our sights on a sixth successive Scudetto, which would be a record-breaking achievement and an extraordinary one for Italian football.

“In the Champions League, as in all the competitions, we take part looking to win it. Our first opponent is Porto, who cannot be underestimated by any stretch.”