Coach Stefano Pioli, can finally celebrate his 100th game as coach of AC Milan with a win as it was snatched after a lot of effort.
The Rossoneri boss said the following words to the microphones of Sky Sport Italia:
"We struggled because we thought, wrongly, that the game, with two goals and one more man, was over. Fortunately, we had the qualities to take it back and we won an important match."
On having more men than Bologna:
"Even in numerical superiority, we lacked clarity, we were too frenetic. With Ibra and Giroud ahead we made too many crossings, we had to play it more and move it more quickly. In the first 10 minutes of the second half we had to manage it better."
On the victory:
"It is a very important victory. We know very well that the matches after the European commitments are difficult. It is clear that we will learn a lot from the beginning of the second half, but the team created and played. Now, let's think about Tuesday against an opponent who has had more time, but we don't care: we have to think about recovering our energy and we will work to do better and better."
On Olivier Giroud and Ibrahimovic:
"I had already intended to remove Krunic even before the second expulsion. I thought that their presence would give us more advantageous solutions. Ibrahimovic told me he was really tired, but I replied that the important thing is to win, living the games with intensity. We are a responsible and mature group, who understand that certain games must be managed better. The result is important. In the first half, we did well, we started the second with the wrong attitude but this will help us along our path."
On the last two goals of AC Milan, Pioli said:
"It is an important fact, but it is always the mentality that makes the difference. We are showing that we always believe in it, that we never give up; it is clear that there is a bit of tiredness because there are a lot of players missing and we play a lot of games, but it's the mentality that makes the difference and we want to win the games until the end."
The coach continued:
"We played well against Hellas Verona well, they are opponents that put anyone in difficulty. With Porto, we had the worst performance of this season, but I think it was the only bad one. We must grow in the difficulties of every match."
On the Champions League:
"Liverpool's first 20 minutes were those of a team for the first time on such an important stage, then we played it well. With Atletico, I can't blame anything", said Pioli, "On Tuesday, we did a mediocre performance and at those levels it is much easier to lose. I believe that the Italian league is improving in terms of pace and intensity: there are more spaces and a different mentality. We are getting closer to the European game. In the Champions League, we have a group with very great teams. Now we have two other league games, then we'll see."
