Milan coach Stefano Pioli dismissed the suggestion his team are suffering from a lack of "hunger" as they prepare to face city rivals Inter in Wednesday's Supercoppa Italiana.
The Rossoneri have not won any of their previous three games as they threw away a 2-0 lead in a 2-2 draw with Roma, found themselves dumped out of the Coppa Italia by 10-man Torino, and then had to fight back from 2-0 down just to rescue a point at Lecce.
Although in that period they have moved above Juventus in the Serie A table to take ownership of second, Milan are now nine points behind leaders Napoli.
Much of the build-up to the Supercoppa has been centred around Milan and Inter – who are a point further back in Serie A – requiring a trophy success to boost their respective title chances.
But the suggestion Milan are less motivated than last year did not sit well with Pioli, who said: "How does such a young team that has only won on trophy not be hungry?
"There's only one thing we can control: the quality of our game. If we lower the quality, it becomes difficult to win games. It's not a question of having a 'full stomach'."
In fact, Pioli recognises Wednesday's game in Riyadh as an opportunity to have continuity in terms of success, with Milan hoping last season's Serie A title triumph was the start of a successful new era rather than a flash in the pan.
"It's an important match. We have the chance to win another trophy, it would mean giving continuity to the path we started," Pioli added.
"We know that the last week or so hasn't been the best, but tomorrow is a game in itself, like every other derby is.
"There is a trophy up for grabs and this raises the level of the match, and so we have to raise our level."
The idea that Supercoppa success could be a catalyst was also put to Pioli's counterpart, Simone Inzaghi.
Inter's board has reportedly made it clear to Inzaghi that they view beating Milan as a possible turning point in the season, though he is seemingly not convinced there is a link between victory in this game and subsequent improvement.
"We'll have to wait and see. I remember last year that we enjoyed the Supercoppa final win over Juventus in the right way, because a few days later we were back playing away to Bergamo," he recalled.
"Football never stops. Three days later, we were talking about a 0-0 draw in Bergamo against Atalanta.
"We need to just take one game at a time. Now we've got Milan, and we're preparing for it in the best way we can.
"The players need to work hard for their team-mates because in these types of games it's the only way you end the game without regrets."
Man Utd back-up goalkeeper Heaton out 'for several matches'
Manchester United back-up goalkeeper Tom Heaton has been ruled out until mid-April with an ankle injury.
The 36-year-old has featured twice for United this season, keeping clean sheets in the EFL Cup wins over Charlton Athletic and Nottingham Forest.
However, Heaton was not part of Erik ten Hag's squad for the dramatic 3-1 FA Cup victory against Fulham prior to the international break after sustaining an injury in training.
And a club statement confirmed on Thursday the three-cap England international will miss "several of United's upcoming matches".
"Unfortunately, the day before the Fulham game I rolled my ankle in training," Heaton said.
"Thankfully, it's not too bad but it'll mean a couple of weeks out. I should be back some point in April, hopefully halfway through.
"It's an occupational hazard unfortunately, a bit of a random one. I just went over on the ankle and nicked the ligament."
January recruit Jack Butland will now provide competition for first-choice keeper David de Gea, who has played the full 90 minutes in 42 of United's 46 games this season.
No human rights abusers, tax evaders, fraudsters: Premier League sets new rules to vet club owners and directors
The Premier League will be entitled to disqualify club owners and directors for human rights abuses, under new rules revealed on Thursday.
That was one of the outcomes of a shareholders' meeting as the league tightened up restrictions on who should be allowed to own and govern its clubs.
It was announced there would be increased clarity and transparency regarding due diligence carried out in the case of takeovers, as well as annual checks to determine directors remained compliant.
The owners' and directors' test (OADT) has faced plenty of scrutiny, mainly but not exclusively relating to the influx of money pouring into the league from overseas, with huge investments in Premier League clubs coming largely from the United States and the Middle East.
This update coincides with Manchester United, the Premier League's most successful club, being targeted for a possible takeover by wealthy prospective buyers from various quarters of the globe.
The league said it had carried out a thorough review and stated clubs agreed the changes should take effect immediately, with all decisions to be reviewed by an independent panel.
It said the threshold to determine who held control of a club would be lowered from a 30 per cent to 25 per cent stake, while chief executives would be among those coming "within the scope of the OADT".
Along with human rights abuses, which the league said would be based on the UK government's Global Human Rights Sanctions Regulations 2020, it was decided that a situation where a person or company is subject to government sanctions would qualify as a disqualifying event.
The Premier League disqualified Roman Abramovich as owner of Chelsea in March of last year, soon after government sanctions were imposed on the oligarch following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. It led to the club being sold to a consortium led by American Todd Boehly.
Anyone convicted of violence, corruption, fraud, tax evasion and hate crimes also faces the prospect of disqualification under the new guidance, and anyone under investigation for a potentially disqualifying event would also risk being prevented from becoming a club director.
Amid a number of further disqualifying circumstances, it was also decided the Premier League should clearly disclose who has been disqualified, as well as compiling an annual 'report of compliance'.
Rooney praises Man Utd's Ronaldo reaction, backs Rashford to break Red Devils record
Wayne Rooney has praised Manchester United for moving on from Cristiano Ronaldo's exit, while backing their new talisman Marcus Rashford to beat his own Red Devils goals record.
Ronaldo left United for the second time in acrimonious circumstances in November, having declared he did not respect manager Erik ten Hag during an incendiary interview with British broadcaster Piers Morgan.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner then joined Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr, while United have enjoyed a successful spell, winning the EFL Cup and strengthening their grip on a top-four spot in the Premier League.
Asked about Ronaldo's controversial departure during an interview with CNN, United's all-time leading scorer Rooney said: "I suppose he got what he wanted.
"For Manchester United, it was important to move on as quick as possible from that and really refocus on the group of players who were there and wanted to be there.
"I think that's where Ten Hag has done a really good job in refocusing the players and getting them in a position where they are, obviously comfortably in the top four, and also winning the [EFL] Cup."
Asked whether Ronaldo's turbulent second stint at Old Trafford harmed his standing with the club's supporters, Rooney added: "No, I think what he's done for Manchester United is great.
"He's won Premier League titles, won the Champions League, scored many goals. I think certainly for the fans and his former team-mates, we'll never forget what he did for Manchester United.
"In my eyes, he'll always be a club legend and it's a shame the way it ended, of course, this time round. But I don't think that takes anything away from his legacy at the club."
Rashford has stepped up since Ronaldo left United, scoring 19 times in 25 appearances after returning from the World Cup.
Rooney saw his record total of 53 England goals surpassed by Harry Kane last week, and he hopes his tally of 253 goals in a United shirt will one day be within Rashford's reach.
"We've all known about Marcus, even before he was in the first team, coming through the academy," Rooney said.
"He's a top player and he fell off a little bit over the last 18 months especially. And again, I think Ten Hag has come in and really simplified it for him.
"I'm not a player who sits on records and hopes no one breaks them. I hope he does it. I think it's a great story and it means he's been very successful with the club and been there a long time and scored a lot of goals if he does do it. So I hope he does.
"I think he certainly has the ability and the capabilities to be able to do it. I'm sure, or I hope, sometime in the next few years I'll be able to pass that mantle onto him."
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