Summary Milan flop Torres proved his critics wrong on just his second game on his return to Atletico.
MILAN (AFP) - AC Milan coach Filippo Inzaghi claims the departure of misfiring Spaniard Fernando Torres for Atletico Madrid could offer "more chances" to rarely-used striker Giampaolo Pazzini.
Milan flop Torres proved his critics wrong on just his second game on his return to Atletico last week when he scored twice in a 2-2 Copa del Rey draw with city rivals Real Madrid to send them crashing out the competition.
Former Sampdoria, Fiorentina and Inter striker Pazzini has mostly been warming Milan s substitutes bench since joining the club in 2012, and his chances hardly improved following the arrival of Frenchman Jeremy Menez and the return from injury of Stephan El Shaarawy at the start of the season.
The recent arrival of winger Alessio Cerci from Atletico -- in a straight loan swap with Torres going the other way -- has not made Pazzini s bid any easier.
But Inzaghi indicated the 30-year-old Pazzini, who has made eight appearances this season but mostly as a substitute, may now get his chance.
"Pazzini is an added value to the side and we thought about letting Torres go to give more chances to Giampaolo (Pazzini)," Inzaghi said in comments reported on www.acmilan.com.
"I am happy for Torres, I am sure he will do well. We have Cerci and he s arrived with the right humility, he s understood the spirit here and I think he can help us a lot."
Milan host Atalanta on Sunday looking to end a three-game winless streak in the league but buoyed by their 2-1 Italian Cup win over Sassuolo in midweek.
A second successive home defeat, following a 2-1 league reverse to Sassuolo a fortnight ago, would dent Milan s bid to claw back their five-point deficit to Lazio, who sit in the third and last Champions League qualifying place.
Inzaghi said it was time to make "the San Siro our stronghold", adding: "We have to become consistent. We must pick up a few more points but I m confident we can only improve in the second half of the season."
