AC Milan coach, Stefano Pioli, has presented the Empoli - Milan game, valid for fixture 19 of the Serie A, which is set to take place tomorrow. The Italian boss, spoke this way to the media during the press conference:
"I listen and read a lot of things right now, something can help us do better. I didn't like the performances against Liverpool and Udinese, with Napoli there was a reaction and we didn't deserve defeat."
On the Empoli side:
"We face a strong team that has beaten Juventus, Napoli, and Fiorentina. It will take attention and determination. They play good football, they are quick and have the means to get us in trouble. Much will depend on our performance."
He added:
"We need to focus on tomorrow's game to improve our progress and the standings."
On the team's pereformance:
"I don't care what people say, I read little and I don't let myself be influenced. Results command and when we don't win we deserve criticism. We are making team mistakes, we need to do something more to improve."
Against Atlético Madrid, Milan still won despite the many absences...
"Against Atletico it was one of the best matches, we hit high levels of important quality. There were a lot of players missing there too. We are lacking a bit in the fluidity of the maneuver and in the last 30 meters."
How's Theo Hernandez:
"Theo has become more complete, now he is also better in the defensive phase. He gives us a lot in the offensive phase. He is better, I hope he will be in optimal conditions tomorrow."
What do you say about Kessié's disallowed goal?
"The interpretation of the rule is not correct. The club is making itself felt in the right places, it is useless to do it publicly. Kessie's goal, in the dynamics of football, cannot be cancelled."
What is the cause of so many injuries?
"We have raised the level of recovery. The number of muscle injuries in November was too high and in the long run you can pay for it. We are overcoming the problem and will overcome it after the Christmas break. In the second round we will have to do more. If we win tomorrow it will be 42 points in the first round."
Pioli on Rafael Leao's condition:
"Tomorrow he will not be there, he will return against Roma. Tomorrow, there will be no Ibrahimovic due to an overload in the knee."
About the January transfer window:
"The level of the championship is high, there are many teams that can have long winning streaks. We are one of these teams. We have to aim for 6, 7 or 10 wins in a row. We have to play our football, hoping that in 2022 all my players are healthy. As for the transfer market, the club has always done well in January. If we can improve the squad we will do it."
On Alessandro Florenzi and Alessio Romagnoli:
"Romagnoli is fine mentally and physically, he is a strong player. Florenzi is a useful player, he is intelligent. He's an important player who can give us a great hand."
Pioli on Junior Messias:
"Right now he is playing very wide in order to have the possibility to do more one on one. He is a player who if he plays even more inside the field can do well, it depends on the game."
