Gennaro Gattuso found positives in AC Milan's draw with Fiorentina after his tired squad battled back to share the spoils at Stadio Artemio Franchi on Saturday.
Milan's Serie A form has been inconsistent throughout the 2017-18 campaign and they went into the clash in Florence having suffered back-to-back defeats against Verona and Atalanta.
However, there were positive signs with Wednesday's victory over Inter in the Coppa Italia quarter-final – Gattuso's men winning in extra time thanks to Patrick Cutrone.
Milan's struggles in front of goal continued against the Viola with only one shot – which was off target - in the first half.
1 - AC Milan fired only 1 shot in the first half against Fiorentina, less than in any other first half of the current Serie A. Tiredness. December 30, 2017
When Fiorentina took the lead through Giovanni Simeone, Milan's plight looked perilous, but Hakan Calhanoglu rescued a point three minutes later with his second league goal for the club.
And that fighting spirit is something that encourages Gattuso as Milan look to turn their fortunes around in 2018.
"We didn't want to lose and knew that some of our players weren't in great shape," Gattuso told Mediaset Premium.
"It's true we didn't create much in the first half, but in the second we reacted to draw and, perhaps, could even have won it.
"The team is starting to have that never-say-die spirit, which might not be pretty to watch, but we work as a team now.
Full-time at the Artemio Franchi / Fischio finale 1-174' December 30, 2017
"It was a struggle in the first half, as we never found Riccardo Montolivo and Giacomo Bonaventura with our passing game. We got too deep because we didn't want to suffer under pressure.
"Let's not forget, Fiorentina hadn't conceded in almost 500 minutes of Serie A football.
"It wasn't the greatest performance, but I am happy with the way we took it on."
