Balotelli: I made mistakes at Liverpool but Rodgers’ tactics were also to blame

Mario Balotelli admits he made mistakes but claims Brendan Rodgers’ tactics were partly to blame for his failure at Liverpool.

The Italian striker has rejoined AC Milan on a season-long loan after scoring just four goals for the Reds in 28 appearances,

“I accept my faults, but also Brendan Rodgers’ formation didn’t suit my characteristics,” he told Gazzetta dello Sport.

“At the start I messed up a lot of easy chances, then I had fewer opportunities to score, a bit of bad luck, injuries.

“It was a mess. However I never protested, I accepted the choices of the manager and always behaved like a professional.

“The grown-up Mario didn’t just land here at Milan – even at Liverpool my behaviour and lifestyle were normal. There haven’t been any problems in my private life in the last year.

“I may have put pictures from restaurants on Instagram, but that doesn’t mean I wasn’t training even though I wasn’t playing.

“I have trained a lot, often double sessions and also by myself, or in the last few months with Borini and Jose Enrique. It was tough, but if I hadn’t done it then I would have been dead after yesterday’s training session.”

Balotelli has vowed to knuckle down and deliver for Milan, who agreed to take him back 12 months after selling him to Liverpool for £16million.

“I have a promise to keep to myself, my family, Milan, (Sinisa) Mihajlovic and (Mino) Raiola who loves me,” he said.

“I know that I can not miss anything, I accept all the rules. I have not forgotten how to play football. I return full of energy and enthusiasm, willing to work.

“I’m 25 years old, no longer a child. I threw away too many chances already.

“I am grateful to Milan. Coming back here is a dream come true.

“I’m a man now and do not create problems. I will accept any decision. The coach is a leader, hard, honest, frank, sincere. I have a great debt to him. “

Balotelli is determined to score the goals required to get back into the Italy squad ahead of next summer’s European Championships in France.

“I want to do well with Milan and regain my place in the national team,” he said.

“But now I just have to work. It’s one step at a time. If I put together many good performances maybe I’ll get to France. I want to play the European Championship, I will do everything to achieve that.

“To see me with the national team was one of the wishes of my father before he died. I owe it to him. Football is my life. I love to play.” Liverpool Echo