"I did not like the performance in the first half, but things have improved considerably"

"Paqueta only trained once that week because he had the flu. Tiemoue Bakayoko was not good either and was not destined to play, "the coach told Sky Sport Italia.

"I did not like the performance in the first half, because we moved the ball without impact, we at best tickled Empoli instead of hurting them. I got angry, because we were almost trapped with the two backs that were up and that was not to happen.

"We moved a lot better after the break and things improved a lot.

"We have to have the crowd on our side and the only way to do it is to fight for each ball. There are 13 rounds left, we have to take one game at a time and not look at the table.

"People are asking for pressure, but when you put on the Milan jersey or enter San Siro, you're under pressure. That's right, Milan has not been competitive for the top four at this stage of the season, but we are here and want to go to the end. "

Bakayoko has seen a tremendous boost in form since he was booed by the San Siro crowd shortly after his arrival, loaned by Chelsea.

"Football is great because it's not life. In life, you do something stupid, it can take years to compensate. In football, you play every three days and you have the opportunity to change things immediately, "said Gattuso.

"Piatek scored regularly and the credit also goes to his teammates, who put him in good conditions to score."

Piatek and Paqueta have both had a significant impact since joining the club in January, but this has reduced playing time for other team members, Patrick Cutrone.

"Being grumpy about not playing is part of the job," continued Gattuso.

"If I see someone who is constantly on the bench smiling and laughing, it's not good either.

"What I'm looking for is respect. Respect and consistency, the hard work of the week being the only way to earn a place. You have to make sure you are ready and impress when asked.

"The important thing is to be honest and clear. We look into each other's eyes and speak clearly.

"I was not satisfied with my team at all. We did not fill the surface effectively, we moved the balloon too slowly and did not have the right moves. I was the first to take the blame, it was mainly my fault.

"I can not promise anything to anyone. All I can say is a very young team with very interesting players.

"We need to create some momentum and this win is a great example, because it was not easy under the circumstances and move up a gear after such a mediocre first period. That bodes well. "