AC Milan midfielder Riccardo Montolivo says he does not mind bearing the brunt of the fans' criticism if it takes the pressure off his teammates.
Montolivo is often subjected to jeers from his club's own fans and there was no exception when he was substituted towards the end of the Rossoneri's 2-0 win over Lazio on Tuesday night.
The Italy international registered the boos as he left the field, but did not complain when asked about them as he left the San Siro.
"The fans here are increasingly demanding with me and there are some people I am never going to please, so I just get used to it," the 31-year-old said. "It's good that all the pressure is on me and not my teammates, though."
Montolivo is not alone in being singled out for criticism by the Milan fans, however.
"He and I are fighting it out for who can be criticised the most," Milan's general manager Adriano Galliani told Milan Channel. "Obviously receiving what is often unfair criticism gets to you, but I think Montolivo knows how to play well even in a position which is not his own."
Milan's second win in a row and third of the season lifted them to third ahead of the remaining midweek fixtures in Serie A on Wednesday evening, and coach Vincenzo Montella felt the fans should be focusing more on that than on Montolivo.
"I don't know if the fans picked on him. He was part of the starting XI because he played a great match against Samp," he said on acmilan.com. "It's normal that our top players are always at the centre of attention. Riccardo can also play internal midfielder; his role is not a problem.
"I am happy, we are all proud for what we have done tonight. The team is improving and everybody wants to do well, also those who are not playing that much, and this is surely positive.
"We have won these two difficult matches and it was well deserved, although now we have to focus on the next two games against Fiorentina and Sassuolo who won't be at all easy."