AC Milan head coach Stefano Pioli has spoken in the press conference earlier today ahead of the game opposing AC Milan to Sampdoria this Saturday in Serie A. Here are his statements:
On whether responsibilities increase at this stage:
"We have always taken responsibility with great conviction and trust. There comes a decisive moment, all we have done so far is to be here right now. All the games will be difficult and we have to give our best, we want to get to the end of the season without regrets, playing for Milan".
On how the players are doing after these two weeks:
"If I could, I would have given everyone holidays, we needed this break. The five forward players who remained are fine, those who returned from the national team are back in good condition, except Brahim Diaz who has problems and we will evaluate him tonight"
On tomorrow's game:
"We totally believe in what we do. Serenity, trust is our way of working. Ten games are a lot, the fight will be very hard, we have to think about tomorrow's match. It is important, difficult, against a team motivated and trained by a great coach, I respect him because he was the coach who gave me the most in my coaching career."
On the renewal situation:
"The serenity I see in the eyes of Zlatan, Calha, Gigio, the players who are negotiating the renewal. Their future is now for us, it would change everything for us to go or not to go to the Champions League, I see a lot of concentration and attention"
On how many points are missing for the Champions League:
"We still have a lot of points to score. 75 could be the right threshold, but it is difficult to calculate."
On the difference between home and away:
"Our home numbers are significantly lower than away numbers. This is why it becomes important to return to winning in our stadium."
On injuries:
"Tomorrow we will not have everyone available, we are still far from what I would like. We hope to get close as early as the next one, we want to have no regrets and we believe that the ten matches must be played with great decision".
On Ibra:
"Ibra is fine, we felt like we were with the others on a daily basis. He is happy to be back in the national team and available with us. He did two high level training sessions, he arrived in very good condition. Everything is fine".
On whether Bennacer and Kessie will be back together:
"We must have rhythm in the game, try to be compact when the opponents are in possession and move a lot with the ball. Isma in reading the spaces and in verticalising is an important player for us."
On Hauge:
"He had a physical tarnish but it is physiological, he arrived when the season in Norway was about to end and he was more brilliant for the others. In these two days I have seen him in good condition".
On the future of Tomori:
"We are very satisfied with how he has entered, he is a handsome smiling boy, he gives us important characteristics. We must continue to do well, without thinking about the future. We have to think about tomorrow’s game, it will be complicated, the stops take away some preparation to the game. Let’s focus on this game and then we’ll think about the future."
On the physical condition in this season finale:
"The team is doing well, they arrive at the right time with the right condition. Fiorentina's performance was very important in terms of character, against a good opponent. We tried to play the game and get it back. We have to make a strong performance above all. from a mental point of view. I don't think of a perfect game. It will be a game where we will have to work a lot."
On the team talking about the Scudetto:
"The team has to think like this, God forbid you think negatively, then we know very well that we have to turn hopes into convincing performances, winning is difficult, but the team must go out on the pitch with confidence and awareness".
On the management's say about renewals:
"I have daily contacts with the management, we are focused on tomorrow's game and on the next ones, we will think about the future later".
On what can make a difference tomorrow:
"In matches, qualities make the difference and motivations. We will be motivated and they too, will want to show that they are up to it. They change their skin often, with excellent players and an excellent coach. A complicated match awaits us."
On how to counteract the speed of Sampdoria:
"Sampdoria verticalizes a lot, even in the defensive phase it waits, sometimes it comes to get you. We have to read the situations carefully during the match, there will be spaces and we will have to exploit them."
On Milan winning for the first time after being disadvantaged against Fiorentina:
"It was an important performance, the confirmation of the growth of this team, it is normal to have difficulties but you have to continue to believe in it, this allows you to win with important qualities".
On whether does he like the name "Milan of the surprises":
"I think it can be correct, but every speech must be re-evaluated on May 23 at the end of the last day. To date I think Milan are one of the surprises of the championship, with Europe more than last year, we have 17 points more. We postpone the judgments to the end of the year, hoping to have the best possible".
