AC Milan manager Vincenzo Montella has claimed his side are not reliant on star striker Carlos Bacca, after claims were made that they were too dependent on his contributions.
Colombia international Bacca has started the season in impressive form, bagging five goals in five Serie A appearances. Milan beat Lazio 2-0 on Tuesday night at the San Siro, during which Bacca scored, and helped move the Rossoneri up to "?third place in the league.
And despite his impressive start to the season grabbing all the headlines, Milan boss Montella has claimed it is the hard work of all of his side's players which is making the Italian outfit successful during the early stages of the season.
"Bacca is doing great things, but the team is putting him in positions to do great things," "?he told Mediaset Premium.
"Milan goes both with and without Bacca. I'm happy when he does perform like tonight, but I'm also happy for the spirit of the group and also for those who did not play because there is active participation by all."
Vincenzo also revealed how he was sorry that Milan attacker Luiz Adriano has had to make do with little game time during Bacca's impressive form, and also that Milan's best pieces of transfer business over the summer were in keeping their first-team stars.
"Luiz Adriano. He is playing very little and I'm sorry. However, we will need everyone [to do their part]. This evening, at the match, I really liked the group.
"Our best business in the market this summer was keeping Bacca, but also [Alessio] Romagnoli and other Milan players."
There had been speculation that Bacca could leave the club during the summer transfer window, while youth prodigy Gianluigi Donmnarumma had also been touted to leave the Serie A club, but both have stayed and remain important to Milan's domestic hopes this season.