AC Milan will play tomorrow at the San Siro against Fiorentina. The 4 games which remain in the season are all equally important in the Scudetto race. Stefano Pioli wants his team to be really focused and motivated to win the next clash which will surely not be an easy task.
The gaffer, spoke to the media today in his usual press conference.
Here are his statements:
"Maldini's words and emotions? We are proud to have such high level executives."
On the atmosphere at Milanello:
"We always thought that the best thing was to focus on the next game. I saw attention and determination: that's what we will need tomorrow."
The boss added:
"I think everything counts from here to the end: mentality, tactics, etc. Games are often decided by episodes and if you want to have a chance to win you have to put something more than the opponent, be it ferocity, aggression or something else."
On the preparation:
"I think warm heart and cold head is always the best ranking. We play football that requires energy, intensity and effort, but we must be lucid in the moments of the match."
On the stoppage time victory against Lazio:
"We didn't want to have such a negative approach against Lazio, then we had the strength to overturn it because we believed in it until the end, deserving the victory."
On what to expect in this final season sprint:
"The emotions at this moment are great concentration and a great desire to do our job well to the end. Nobody is thinking about May 22nd, we are thinking about tomorrow because it has to be. The predictions change from week to week, what matters is give our best tomorrow against a team that plays good football. When we make the performance worthy of Milan, then we do have a better chance of getting the three points", said Pioli.
On Fiorentina's style:
"It is difficult to predict. When a team goes high up the pitch, they leave space so we have to be good at choosing the right moments. Staying inside the game means interpreting quickly and with quality the various match situations."
Was your squad underestimated this season?
"I don't care so much if we are appreciated outside, I care what we think. We also have limits that we try to cover and enhance our qualities. What matters is maximum concentration to better prepare for tomorrow's match."
On the current form:
"We have to start from the two goals scored, inside those two goals scored there is a lot of our characteristics, from Leao's shot in depth, to Giroud's slip, to the pressure of Rebic and Zlatan, to the touch of Tonali. We have to start from these attitudes. If we are intense and we all work to be proactive, we have more chances of winning, we have to do it continuously during the match. Fiorentina is a high-level team, so our level will also have to be high. Bologna and Torino are also strong and we had difficulties with them. What matters will be the final score, we have to think about collecting as many points as possible."
Pioli on Vincenzo Italiano:
"Last year in Spezia was our worst performance in the league. During the week, I reviewed the first leg match against Fiorentina, we made many individual mistakes. Italiano is doing a great job, we we will have to make the right plays to put Fiorentina in difficulty."
Manchester City were given advantage and scored agains Real Madrid, a situation identical to the one against Spezia earlier this season when Messias' goal was disallowed...
"I thought the referee did very well."
On the physical situations of players:
"The players not called up will be Kjaer, Florenzi who is recovering well, and Daniel Maldini who is tired. All the others can be called up."
On the fans:
"Our fans are intelligent, it's not the time to talk but to do."
On Ismael Bennacer:
"He had a problem with his ankle, he has been training with the team since yesterday and he is doing well. He is certainly not underestimated by me, by my managers and by his teammates. He knows how to interpret the two phases well, he is a complete midfielder."
If Ibrahimovic said anything to his teammates:
"Zlatan talks every day with his teammates, Thursday I don't think he said anything special. Thursday was the least suitable day to say something."
What did you say to the team on Thursday:
"Thursday morning was the only day I didn't speak to the team."
On the approaches the matches of Lazio and Inter:
"Something we have to think well about and we tried to work on a mental level. With Lazio, we were good at taking it back. We don't have to think about ending the game, but we must have balance and then stay in game", declared Pioli.
On tomorrow's game:
"It is important, yes. I believed the same thing before Lazio. Tomorrow will be fundamental and I will say the same thing before the game against Verona."
Pioli concluded the press conference by saying the following
"We have prepared the game for what our game concepts are, knowing that we have to put everything we have."
