AC Milan captain Riccardo Montolivo has tried to lower the expectations for the coming season after an enthusiastic president Silvio Berlusconi paid the team a visit on Tuesday.
Following the arrivals of Carlos Bacca, Luiz Adriano and Andrea Bertolacci, and the instalment of Sinisa Mihajlovic on the Rossoneri bench, expectations are currently soaring in Milan, who have failed to qualify for Europe in either of the past two seasons.
Berlusconi visited the squad at their Milanello training ground on Tuesday and told reporters that he saw a squad working "in an exemplary manner" ahead of their departure for China, where they will face Real Madrid and Inter Milan in two preseason friendlies.
Given his investment in the squad of almost €60 million, Berlusconi will be expecting a noticeable return this season, but Montolivo says all talk of them challenging for the Scudetto is premature.
"It's going to be hard," he said. "I think now is not the time to make many statements, but to show what we can do on the field. We need to talk little and work a lot."
Montolivo boarded the plane to China with his teammates in confident mood after meeting Berlusconi.
Our plane @emirates took off just now, we'll be in Shanghai in 9 hours! - See you soon China! pic.twitter.com/6VyL7CiCI7
- AC Milan (@acmilan) July 22, 2015
"His visit has given us energy thanks to his great charisma," he added. "We know him and how he always manages to motivate us."
The same can be expected from Mihajlovic, who Montolivo says he is "getting to know better all the time."
Montolivo added: "He's an authentic person and I think the most important thing is the relationship between the coach and his players. Certainly he's a top coach."