AC Milan head coach Stefano Pioli was interviewed by Milan TV in the Inferno del Lunedì broadcast. Here are his statements:
On yesterday's game:
"Yesterday we knew we could begin to close a circle. From that defeat in Bergamo we began to build our path, a new Milan, made up of a lot of work, a lot of will, to always believe in the things we have It was a beautiful, difficult, but stimulating path that gave us incredible satisfaction last night. We reached an important goal through another great performance".
On the young age of the team:
"I think at the beginning of the season it was right to ride the enthusiasm of our boys because things were going well, we got results after results. On the contrary: the mental freshness gave us a lot of energy and we took advantage of it. We took advantage of the freedom to go on the pitch. without worry. The most difficult thing is the other: when we started to lose a few games, when there was the possibility of losing everything we had built, maybe at that moment the tension and the worry arrived, me, Maldini and Massara to never lose faith in our way of working and taking the field. I think this was the best thing for our team because they believed so much in what they were doing and had the opportunity to grow with the right balance and the right pressures, without too exasperating situations."
On the preparation of the match:
"We have very clear playing principles in mind. It is a question of proposing a football that is not passive, but proactive, not to wait, but to try to command and control the game, trying to be more and more dangerous than opponent. Then there is always in the preparation of a game the attention on the opponent. It is important to give your players the opportunity to play the ball to put the opponent in difficulty; not all opponents are the same: there are matches in where it is better to be aggressive, others less, others where it is better to dribble a little more, but we always want to try to dominate and be more dangerous than the opponent".
On AC Milan fans:
"This season AC Milan fans gave us a great emotion. They charged us by making us understand what we were doing. We did a season warming the hearts of the fans for better or for worse, because the fans understood that we play with spirit, with will. Seeing them so close to us gave us the energy to face a very complicated and very difficult match."
On his feelings at Milan:
"I am aware of what I see and hear; I prepare a lot of strategy for the next game and I think I know the characteristics that are needed, to see who is better or worse, who to play starter, I am very careful and compared to the past I am much more aware and less hesitant. Even if everyone has doubts, even those who speak saying they have the whole truth. It's always difficult to leave out players who give you everything during the week, but you have to make these kinds of choices."
On the messages of the fans:
"I will read these messages to my players when we meet again. The best we can achieve is to make people happy with our successes. We have had a great season, let's enjoy this summer knowing that the difficult will still come."
On the team group:
"Until yesterday at 11pm all my players were focused and motivated to achieve a very important goal, knowing that some of them will probably have the opportunity to gain other experiences from today. This means for me and for the club. coaching a group of very responsible players. I thank them all, especially those who played less. Many young people, like Dalot, Diaz, Kalulu, had never played like this year. Everyone collected what they deserved, what they have sown. Thanks to their application, their will, the air we breathe inside Milanello, we have gone beyond our limits ".
On the next goals:
"As I arrived at Milanello there were no carousels, but as I entered I felt good. I feel I am in the right place and this pushes me to give everything, to try to do something really important and continue to do so. Today we are talking about a great season, I am already thinking about the next one. You have to continue to demonstrate, to grow, to improve. I took advantage of all my experience to raise the bar and so must we: the club supports us, we will do the most of what we can do, whatever will be necessary to carry out our ideas to satisfy an audience that is fantastic".
On his dream:
"Winning something and doing it in Milan would be something exciting, but I remember very well an interview with Maldini in which he said that the club must play the Champions League for 2-3 consecutive years to return to being a top club. We must confirm ourselves, grow: that will be our goal. We must start with ambitions because we are Milan. I dream at night and work during the day so that dreams can come true. This is what we must do."
