AC Milan head coach Stefano Pioli has spoken in the press conference earlier today ahead of the game opposing the Rossoneri to Genoa this Sunday in Serie A. Here are his words:
On the importance of the victory tomorrow:
"It is the desire that we all have. We want to go back to winning at San Siro, after a long time. We will have to do it with precise choices, trying to have more quality in the last quarter of the field."
On the alternative to Ibrahimovic and what can Mandzukic and Leao give:
"I'm happy that Mario is fine. He doesn't have 90 minutes in his legs but he has had a great week of training. He knows how to move very well, rarely making mistakes in playing times. Leao knows how to vary very well and go deep."
On Manduzkic's gesture:
"Mario has suffered a lot from not being available in recent months. He arrived with great enthusiasm. I have never had any doubts about his moral and technical qualities. He will help us from here to the end"
On whether it would be a different Milan in the attitude at home:
"We evaluated our performances at home. We faced different opponents with different attitudes. We need to be more focused in the last quarter and attack with more conviction and quality."
On whether it could be an exam for Leao:
"I am convinced of Leao's growth, I find myself fielding a much improved player compared to last season for the will he puts into the game. We have a big goal to achieve and we are all under scrutiny. You must be worried so you prepare for the exam better and I saw a worried team".
On whether tomorrow's game would be a great opportunity for Milan, as the opponents will face each other:
"Tomorrow there is Milan-Genoa, we only think about our match and our opponents. We must be ready to face an opponent of great quality and who has done very well with the new coach. We will have to have a lot of determination."
On talking to Donnarumma:
"I speak constantly with the players. Our future is now. Gigio knows how important tomorrow's game is as well as the team. For other situations I am fortunate to have a very attentive club. Maldini spoke appropriately last Saturday before the match. We are all concentrated at Milanello. On the outside, the subject is a bit boring."
On whether Manduzkic would stay for the next season:
"He is a strong player with important values. These last matches are important for all of us, for the club and for the future of all of us. He is a boy with important values and who has always been reliable in his career."
On referees in Serie A:
"We have to focus on the situations that we have to determine. We don't have to think about other things or other situations or other oversights. Refereeing in Serie A is very difficult. The absence of an audience I thought could facilitate refereeing but it was not so considered the many words of players and coaches. We have a high level referee class."
On Franck Kessie's season:
"Franck has become a complete player. He knows how to combine everything inside the game. He is very attentive and available in all situations. He has improved in handling the ball, he verticalizes more. He is a player who has reached a very high level but who can still grow. He can make little mistakes and must make little mistakes in the position he holds."
On whether he would like to have Tomori for the next season:
"I have a lot of respect for your questions but I hear and see that we are talking about the future. We have to think about the present and not about players who can be with us next year. Tomori's impact is very positive both mentally and in terms of performance. But now let's think about tomorrow's match."
On Ibrahimovic:
"With him I talked about the match as well as with the others, I saw him attentive and involved as always, unfortunately for us he will not be present due to disqualification against Genoa."
On managing the final rush:
"For us there are no distractions. We continue to work according to our principles. I see a determined and eager team. We are in the middle of the climb and until you see the top you have to keep pedaling."
On Genoa:
"I coached Badelj and he is an attentive and quality player. They are a complete team, which covers the zones well. They do not have ball possession but play vertically. It is a physical team and difficult to overcome."
On Leao and Dalot:
"Leao has the important quality of getting in well in the game in progress but he also played good games from the start. His substitute skills can be useful to the team. I see a player who is much more attentive both in daily life and in the game, he can grow even more. and this is part of the growth process. Dalot trains very well as well as the other members of the team. This is important."
On Scamacca:
"He is a very promising young player, with clear characteristics. He is certainly a strong player with prospects".
On the attitude for tomorrow's game:
"Going ahead or behind can change a lot during the match. With Sampdoria the approach was not positive, with Genoa we want to enter the field with a more aggressive and more decisive approach".
On Rebic and Leao's movements tomorrow:
"They are important players. If they move with the right times, they can give us good solutions."
On whether he analyzed the fact of conceding goals in the first part of the second half:
"Yes, it is another fact that we have analyzed, we change something at the beginning of the second half to be more ready mentally and physically. We have to stay for 95 minutes in the game with great attention."
On whether the return of the fans could change the status of the matches:
"I have to say that we can't wait to see our fans at the stadium again. Football is made of enthusiasm and passion. Even when there were only 1000 spectators it felt the difference. [It] could give [us] strength and emotion."
