Coach Stefano Pioli spoke during the press conference ahead of the match against Atalanta for Serie A matchday 19 at the San Siro. He had this to say to the media:
On the team's focus for the next game:
"Being aware of your qualities is very important, beyond our certainties we have great respect in our opponents. Atalanta are strong, we must congratulate them, they have been in the Champions League for two years, they are doing a great job, but tomorrow we have to enter a competition of intensity and try to win."
Theo is back, how important is this news for you?
"I am very satisfied to have him available. Maybe he also needed a rest. Dalot has replaced him very well but Theo guarantees us many solutions in the defensive and offensive phase."
Atalanta have drawn their recent two matches...
"They are playing well and are doing great as a club and as players. The fact that they have not won the last two matches means that our league is very competitive. Atalanta will make their qualities available tomorrow. Two teams tomorrow play against each other and both are first in the standings for the number of tackles, it will also be a physical match."
How did you find Mandzukic?
"He immediately fit in well, he has already worked in Italy. He has a European mentality. Zero problems, a lot of positivity and determination in his arrival. Physically I found him very well, he hasn't played for a long time but he showed up tight and eager."
How are Rebic and Krunic?
"I saw a lot of happiness, they couldn't wait to return. They trained a little yesterday and today with the team, soon they will be able to be available to play again."
How do you evaluate the transfer market made by Milan?
"I would like to thank the owners and the club for being ready. Our objective does not change, we want to try to finish in the top four, it's a seven-team race."
Can Ibrahimovic and Mandzukic play next to each other?
"It's a possibility, Mario has to find more rhythm and condition, but he came up with the idea of playing with Zlatan as well. We want to have valid alternatives and try not to give points of reference to the opponents."
On Milan receiving many penalties and hitting the post the most:
"We play attacking football, we are often inside the box. That's why we have taken so many penalties and hit the bar multiple times. I have great respect for our referee. They are doing their best job."
How do you evaluate the words of Gasperini and Rizzoli?
"It does not concern us, we have great respect for our referees. they have always been considered the best in Europe. We focus on the things we can determine. We are the team that has played the most this year, we hope to continue every three days, we have many players for that too. We are focused only on this."
Are you thinking of the derby match already?
"Only tomorrow's match, as soon as it's finished we'll think about Tuesday's match. We care, but this is our mentality. The match is tomorrow's, it will be a tight match but we have the qualities to do well."
Can we close the circle tomorrow with Bergamo's 5-0?
"The circle closed with Cagliari-Milan 0-2 last year, our journey started from there. Tomorrow we have an important match."
Who is the most formidable opponent for the Scudetto?
"We are only thinking of ourselves in order to be better. With every match that we play, there is always something to improve. In Cagliari we played one of the best races at a technical level, if we combine intensity and technique we will have more chances to win. There are seven teams that will fight for Scudetto and the Champions league spots. We continue to improve to make quality and intense performances."
What kind of player is Tomori?
"He's a guy who has aggression, speed, I've only seen him from the videos yet but the impressions are positive. We need to get to know each other better and give him time to enter our mechanisms."
What role will Mandzukic play?
"I talked to Mario, I couldn't expect a better answer, he told me that he will play where the team needs to try to win the games. These are evaluations that will be made a little at a time, only 2 times we had Zlatan, Rebic and Leao together. I'm happy with Mario's arrival."
On Calabria's growth:
"In Davide's growth many merits are his. Last year he never lost faith in his qualities, this year he deserved my trust with the performances he is doing in matches and in training. He is a very intelligent player. , hardly makes mistakes, he has an important vision of the game."
Would it be better to see Brahim Diaz on the wing?
"Brahim's position is between the lines, he has a poisonous dribble. He can also start from the outside but his best position is that."
On Leao's improvement up front:
"Leao can be a factor in any game, now he is playing more as a striker. Mentally he is thinking more about the goal, to be more inside the area, to be more decisive when he attempts to finish. He can beat his man with his qualities. His growth is due to staying in the game, focused for 90 minutes. Tomorrow, it will be a physical match with many duels, we must be prepared to win."
What changed since a year ago?
"We are more convinced of our qualities and means now. This is due to results and performances. The continuity and conviction have given us an added value."
