Milan midfielder Tonali on throw-in controversy: “It was the right thing to do” | OneFootball

AC Milan midfielder Sandro Tonali has said that he did the right thing in relation to the controversial throw-in that he took for the first Rossoneri goal against Empoli.

Speaking during an interview with Sky Sport after the 3-1 over Empoli (via Milan News), the Italian midfielder addressed the controversial nature of the first goal of the game.

Ante Rebic opened the scoring after 79 minutes after Tonali took a quick throw-in to Rafael Leao who found the Croatian alone in the box and he slotted it home. The anger stems from Tonali being much further forward than where the ball had gone out of play.

He is adamant that he did the right thing as the ball was handed to him: “I was there and the coach gave me the ball in my hand. I don’t look at the position, because at the most there’s the referee who will have it knocked back.

“These are things that you have to do at the moment and what happens will happen. The goal came from this slightly clever throw-in…. It was the right thing to do, full stop.”

Tonali was made captain partway through the match for the first time due to the injuries that forced Davide Calabria and Simon Kjaer off. He seemed unhappy it was in those circumstances: “I preferred not to wear it today after Calabria and Kjaer’s injuries, I didn’t want to wear it like this. I’m happy with the win, but sorry for the three heavy injuries.”

On whether he should be scoring more, Tonali said: “You improve by playing. With Bennacer today we were compact, but we do what the coach asks of us.”

Tonali also spoke to DAZN after the game (via Milan News) and he offered support for Charles De Ketelaere who struggled in Tuscany.

“It’s not easy to arrive and play straight away. We are a young team, we bring everyone on our side, but he was playing in another league. He needs to play, he’s not doing badly.”

On the team’s growth: “This is a game that two years ago we would not have won. With a minute to go we found the right motivation to go for the 2-1. We have grown a lot, we always want to win.”

On Rebic’s goal: “If I wait and look at where the team is, the coach eats me up (smiles). I took the throw-in straight away and served Leao.”