AC Milan boss Marco Giampaolo says Giacomo Bonaventura justified his place for their defeat of Genoa.

Giampaolo surprised everyone by picking Bonaventura for his first start since October 25, 2018.

He said, “We needed experience, character and the ability to deal with the situation. I really liked Bonaventura, as he also has great timing with his passes, a delicate touch.

“Above all, he brought balance, because I struggle to play with three pure strikers. He gave us some balance there, as he can track back, but also play with quality going forward."