AC Milan midfielder Keisuke Honda has suggested that he currently feels no love from the club's fans after the side's bad run of form on the pitch in Serie A.
The Italian giants have suffered a period of disappointing league finishes, having failed to win a domestic trophy since 2011 when they won the Serie A and Supercoppa Italiana, and the Japanese international has claimed that the demanding nature and obsession with winning portrayed by the club's fans is leaving certain players feeling unloved at the San Siro.
Speaking to Japanese news outlet Kyodo, viaMarca, Honda compared his native country to Italy, and described the contrasts in fan reactions when you win and lose: "In Japan, there's basically no booing.
"In Milan, I think there's far too much of it. What's really wrong in Milan is that when you're down during a game, they just completely abandon you. I feel absolutely no love.
"But as soon as you start winning, they treat you like family. So what's it about to them, just numbers and winning or losing? I think it's part of the reason not only Milan but the Italian national side, too, is in the situation they're in.
I feel absolutely no love.�
Keisuke Honda slams heartlesss AC Milan fans - https://t.co/nc5AqRwqLh pic.twitter.com/e2hUhgetNG
"They've been obsessed with only results and that approach might work if you have the talent and can cope with the pressure. But if you don't and you're trying to break ground, that kind of attitude won't cut it."
The former European champions currently sit in sixth in Serie A with 13 points, one behind Napoli, but five adrift of league leaders Juventus, who they will meet at the San Siro after the international break.