AC Milan primavera coach Ignazio Abate is pleased with their season.

Milan finished mid-table and reached the semis of the UEFA Youth League.

Abate said, “I'm extremely proud of the boys, they've had a very difficult journey, there have been many moments of difficulty and I think you've noticed the growth of the boys in the second round, a much more mature team in interpreting the match.

“We had to make the growth of the boys coincide with team results and I must say that we had an excellent Youth League campaign. But even in the league, we were 5 points from the playoffs up until the game in Lecce, then we had a bad month and a half where we lost 7 boys to injury.

“With such a young team, a bit of ups and downs is normal, but we were much more solid in the second round. Today we finished with pride, after the victory in Verona the boys unconsciously emptied themselves a bit, but they played a game of pride and quality."

Abate also said: "I grew up here, then you also need to hear the opinion of the club. I never look too far ahead. I'm always focused on the present, I try to do my best and make myself available to the kids who are the main figures: we are here for them. They are the protagonists and we must try to give them all the tools to be able to grow."