AC Milan head coach Stefano Pioli has spoken in the press conference ahead of the game opposing AC Milan to Benevento thsi Saturday in Serie A. Here are his statements:
What do you think about how we talk about Milan at the moment?
"There is a lot of discussion. We did a great first round, while in the second leg we are doing less well. We have to be more compact and determined, we concede a few goals too many and we don't concretize as much as we create."
Did you expect more nastiness in the last few games?
"For me three things are important. You need to have quality of play, team spirit and have a big heart on the pitch. If we fail in these three things it becomes more difficult to achieve certain results."
What week was it? Is the team reacting?
"This team has always had the right attitudes. Through these challenges and difficulties a young group like ours can grow further. We have had happy and positive moments, we must show that we can overcome even the difficult ones. I have seen a determined team, but we must prove it tomorrow on the pitch".
How important is the proximity of Maldini and the company?
"The support of the club has never been lacking. They are people who know what football is, they know that such difficult seasons also pass through delicate moments. Their closeness helps us and is important."
How is Ibra?
"We all know how important he is for us both from a technical and from a personality point of view. We are happy that he is back at our disposal."
On talks about his future:
"I have always had the support of the club and the property. I am in a great club and therefore the expectations are high. Now we think about the last matches, then we will do all the evaluations. I am convinced of what I am doing and of my work. I go on my way".
What is the watchword right now?
"The key word right now is energy. We have to have a lot of energy inside. We knew it was going to be a difficult season, we are here to play our goal and so we need a lot of energy. The last two defeats hurt us, but we have to believe in us and in our qualities. We have to control the games better. I am coaching an intelligent group. Tomorrow I will give my usual motivational speech, but all the boys know what we are playing with."
Is the issue of renewals affecting the group?
"I see an attentive group with a great desire to do. Against Lazio we missed in the second half, we all know we have to do better. I didn't see little concentration. We are tense at this stage of the championship, but we are focused on the pitch. Nobody thinks about the future, the rumors that circulate outside have not reached here. Our future is tomorrow, not ahead".
On forwards struggling to score:
"I don't look for the guilty ones, but I work to find solutions. Every game we try to find solutions to be more dangerous."
Is it a coincidence that Milan struggled more against teams that play with three-man defenses?
"I don't think that's it, but we need to be more careful in the defensive phase."
In view of the direct clashes with Juve and Atalanta, can we think of a change of form?
"Against Sassuolo we played 4-4-2, but we weren't very concrete in some situations. We still want to think only of tomorrow's match, not of the ones after. Tomorrow we need quality and concentration to win."
Is there a psychological problem in the team?
"It is an important moment in our growth, we must be convinced of what we are doing. We must enter the field with clear ideas and with the right attitude. Tomorrow we must not think about the classification, but only to win against Benevento. we have to enter the field with other thoughts, we just have to think about giving our best and even more. We have to go beyond our limits".
Could the Ibra-Mandzukic partnership be a solution?
"Up front we have great choices. It depends on the strategy, if I want players that are closer or more open. In every game we try to choose the best strategy. Tomorrow it will be complicated, we have to be a team from start to finish. "
Is there a risk that someone is already thinking about Juve?
"None of us are thinking about Juve. That match can only become important after tomorrow's results. We only think about tomorrow because we want to win. Tomorrow I will not look at who the suspects are, I will field the best team."
What do you need to improve in the midfield?
"The trend has to be changed because we leave some situations too many to the opponents. Like the first Lazio goal, not serious individual mistakes but many small things that led us to concede goals. We need to be more compact, it's not a question of midfield or defense."
How's Hauge doing? He can be useful?
"Of course he can be useful. We have many different attacking players, it depends on what game we want to play."
How do you comment on the many criticisms that have arrived?
"I do not comment. The important judgments will be those at the end of the championship, not now. It will depend on what we manage to do. If we finish in the top four there will be positive judgments, otherwise they will not be positive judgments. At this moment the comments count for little. Now let's think about the pitch and give it our all. I have a lot of faith in my players. "
What game will you play tomorrow?
"We want to control the game, this means being in control of situations. We must continue to grow on this aspect."
Mentally how is the team doing?
"We don't have to change the way we play based on the result. We have to be strong and mentally balanced."
Do your players need to be motivated?
"We want to go back to winning. The last two results hurt us, tomorrow we will have to do our best to win again."
(Photo: acmilan.com)