AC Milan chief exec Ivan Gazidis has assured the players claims around Ralf Rangnick are wide of the mark.

Before - and after - his sacking last week, former Milan director Zvonimir Boban had publicly accused Gazidis of holding talks with Red Bull football chief Rangnick in order to replace Stefano Pioli at the end of the season.

However, Gazzetta dello Sport reports Gazidis addressed the squad on Saturday before defeat to Genoa, insisting Pioli had the board's total confidence and there was no truth in the Rangnick reports.

Gazidis insisted to the players that Boban was wrong in his claims regarding former Hoffenheim coach Rangnick.