Tomorrow, AC Milan is set to play against Spanish heavyweights Atlético Madrid who are led by Diego Simeone. The Champions League fixture is valid for matchday 5 of the group stage. Milan has only 1 point after losing 3 games and drawing one against Porto.
Stefano Pioli, the Rossoneri club tactician has spoken to the media during the press conference and said the following:
On the squad's competitiveness level:
"The team is built to be competitive in both competitions. For many of us it is the first time in the Champions League, but the positive thing is that we have shown that we are not too far from our opponents, but something still missing."
On Tomori:
"We try to recover Tomori on Sunday, he has a problem with a hip muscle."
On the loss against Fiorentina 4-3:
"We lost in Florence because both in the defensive and offensive phases we weren't as precise as other times. It wasn't because of our approach to the game or the stop, we didn't win but the team created chances."
Pioli talked about Alessio Romagnoli's condition:
"Romagnoli? He is now better and is ready to play."
What have you said to your team?
"This morning we analysed the characteristics of our rivals. For this match, it is easy to motivate the team: it is perhaps the last chance to try to stay in the Champions League."
On how he chooses his lineups:
"The main evaluation is the condition of the players: if their condition is optimal I make my choices. Rebic? His injury deprives us from his important contributions. I have to manage their health and their ability to perform well."
On Atlético Madrid:
"Atletico Madrid are one of the teams in Europe that relaunch themselves in the final minutes of a game, but in the same way recently they also can get caught up in the end. This shows that we must believe in our chances until to the end", declared Stefano Pioli.
On Antoine Griezmann:
"Regardless of whether or not Griezmann is present, Atletico have quality players. I don't know who will play for them from the start but it will certainly be a competitive team. We have to play for it as we did in the first leg."
Ibrahimovic: “I have pain everywhere every morning I wake up but…”
