AC Milan midfielder Riccardo Montolivo has insisted that his team remain competitive despite the departure of a number of players during the summer.
Both Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva left for Paris Saint-Germain, while Gennaro Gattuso, Alessandro Nesta and Clarence Seedorf were also let go by the Italian giants.
This exodus has led to suggestions that Milan have lost their strength and will struggle to compete for titles in the upcoming 2012-13 season.
However, Montolivio, who joined on a free transfer this summer after his contract with Fiorentina ran out, is confident that the Rossoneri will achieve success this campaign.
"It doesn't seem to me that Milan are struggling," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport after Milan's 1-0 victory over Chelsea in a pre-season friendly.
"Of course we have lost two phenomenal players, but the club was strong before Thiago and Ibrahimovic, was strong with them and will get back to the top even without them."
Milan's next pre-season friendly is against Cruzeiro on August 4.
Subhankar Mondal
