Cristian Brocchi is determined to lift Milan into the European places in Serie A after succeeding Sinisa Mihajlovic as manager.

Mihajlovic was axed with Milan lying sixth in the table, seven points behind Fiorentina who occupy the final Europa League spot and nine adrift of fourth-placed rivals Inter.

Brocchi was immediately an-nounced as his successor and was introduced to the media yesterday.

“The first thing I will say is that I will bring a culture of work,” he told the club’s website.

“But I have seen that from the players this season and that is down to the methods of Mihajlovic and his staff.

“My first objective is to qualify for Europe via the league.”

Brocchi steps up from coaching the Rossoneri’s under-19 team, Milan Primavera, and while he sees his familiarity with the club as a bonus, he is promising a new strategic approach.

“Yesterday was my first training session and I cannot change the mentality of the players straight away,” he said.

“Maybe the fact that I am known at Milanello means the impact has been good, as it is not like finding a new person.

“I really want to bring in my methodology and way of coaching that could be different to that of other coaches.

“I am trying to explain what I want. I like to play with three in midfield and four in defence. I like the idea of playing with a playmaker, which I did with the youth side in the second half of the season.

“There are players who can play in a midfield three and those who can play as attacking midfielders, and we have the chance to play with a ‘trident’.”

Chief executive Adriano Galliani has called on Brocchi to lift a team who have taken only two points from their last five league games.

“We have identified Cristian Brocchi as the person who can give the team a jolt and improve their results,” he said.

“Mihajlovic did a good job and we acknowledge that. He achieved good results, we are in the Coppa Italia final and we are sixth in the league.”