Milan striker Alberto Gilardino has praised former manager Cesare Prandelli.
Milan striker Alberto Gilardino has praised former manager Cesare Prandelli.
The two were once together at Parma, but on Sunday they line up on opposite sides with Prandelli managing Fiorentina and Gilardino leading the line for Milan.
Gilardino secured a big-money move to Milan in the summer and the forward says he owes much of his success to his former coach.
"I owe a lot to Prandelli," said Gilardino. "At Parma he allowed me to become a player, he helped me grow and I learnt a lot on the pitch.
"On a personal level he's really like [Carlo] Ancelotti, they are similar in dressing room manner.
"Prandelli is good at preparing for matches and in finding the opponents' weak points."
The match at the Artemio Franchi stadium is being hailed as a showcase for two of Italy's hottest strikers, Gilardino and the Viola's Luca Toni.
"If I am on the pitch on Sunday we will see. It will be a good challenge," he concluded.
