AC Milan boss, Stefano Pioli, spoke to the media today in view of final matchday against Sassuolo as the Rossoneri need just one point to get their hands on the Serie A trophy.
Here are the tactician's words one day before the match:
"Would I have wanted to reach this situation in the standings in August? I must tell you what I said to the team: we were certainly the best so far, but we will have to be the best again tomorrow. The match is prepared with care. I've always thought that it never counts what you did until yesterday, but what you do tomorrow. We have built this possibility well, now we have to go all the way."
Is there a song that describes your mood today?
"Right now, I want to be very down to earth and concentrated on tomorrow's match. It's a difficult game, we got this far without anyone giving us anything and tomorrow Sassuolo will do everything they can to try to beat us. We have reached this point with solid foundations and we must attack tomorrow based on these same foundations."
On Zlatan Ibrahimovic:
"Ibrahimovic is very keen to be the protagonist tomorrow, like all of us. Tomorrow a championship will close and the balance will be made: between winning and not winning there is a difference. Everyone must think about the ability of being decisive."
Pioli on what he is expecting tomorrow:
"I think our strength has been to interpret every single game with clear and beautiful concepts. In every game there is a different opponent. Sassuolo is the team that has the most quality on the attacking quarter, we will have to be careful and create suitable opportunities to our qualities and characteristics."
Would tomorrow be the most important game of your career? And how will your players sleep?
"I think so, the way I saw them I think so. My players are strange, but in a positive sense. I see the same attitudes and the same serenity that is given by a young age, I am sure that inside them they are experiencing particular emotions. I have always slept well before matches and shortly after. Tomorrow I hope to sleep shortly after the match."
How do you want to reassure the AC Milan fans?
"I would like to tell our fans that it will be a difficult match and that together, as we are showing this year, we are certainly stronger. We need everything and everyone. I will need my 28 players and all the fans who they will be in Reggio Emilia tomorrow. There are no reassurances because the ball is round, we have 95 minutes to demonstrate and to finish our work in the best possible way", declared Pioli.
On if there's anything that struck him about the players:
"No, because I keep seeing the same attitudes. It seems good to me. In the last 4-5 games, we have lived matches from inside or outside and we have faced them with this spirit and serenity. Preparing the match well gives you the opportunity to put everything you have on the pitch."
How important has Ibrahimovic been?
"A lot. He brought mentality, quality, he is a player above all for quality and football intelligence. He brought that personality that a young team needed. He is a point of reference, then his teammates were good at following him and becoming stronger players than they were before Zlatan joining them."
What does Milan need tomorrow?
"To play for Milan and not think that it will be an easy match. If Milan deserve the Scudetto? I'll tell you tomorrow. Today we are first with merit."
Pioli on if Bergamo was the start of everything:
"It can be said that from that game I and the players have understood many things, the management helped us with the January transfer market with Ibra, Kjaer and Saelemaekers. The arrival of Zlatan and Simon raised the technical, moral and professional level of the team. From there, we started with a different continuity and strength than before."
He added:
"It was difficult all year except unfortunately in November when the choices were forced due to injuries. My health staff managers had been critical and there was a reason, then they were good at finding solutions. It is always difficult to make choices with such strong and available players, but I have clear ideas in my head."
On the possibility of Ante Rebic starting against Sassuolo:
"I think I will field the best team to start the game and I think I have the right alternatives."
Who surprised you the most this season?
"We are very clear about what we want to do, active and proactive in both phases. The team has always shown that it believes in its qualities in all situations, it is the same thing we must do tomorrow."
Pioli on the importance of Milanello:
"From the first day I entered here, I felt the right air, it is an ideal place to work. The club supports us and is always present, those who work here try to make their best available to others to get the most out of them."
"Sacrifice, play and passion: another element for the Scudetto? The enthusiasm that has always accompanied us. We have it inside and we have to put it on the pitch. This team needs to play with emotions."
On Gordon Singer's celebration in the stands against Atalanta and what Elliott gave the club:
"They gave us support, trust and made us work in the best possible way. That was important, especially in the lockdown."
If this game will be the most difficult physically an tactically:
"It will be difficult on both aspects. Sassuolo are a very technical team and they have everything in front of them. We know how to fight and suffer: the team is ready for the right match."
On Simon Kjaer:
"The team has lost two important references in the dressing room (Ibrahimovic and Kjaer) How much have the others grown to try to make up for two pillars of team... In this period the team has certainly grown a lot."
Trying not to lose or risk it?
"We prepared the match to play for Milan, to try to be a careful and balanced team."
Was there a moment in particular you thought the team could make it?
"I have always thought very positively about the team, I have a lot of faith in them. In delicate moments, they have always been able to do the best of themselves despite their young age, with the desire to show that we are a strong team."
We never talked about Mrs Barbara...
"If we never talked about the lady, then it is better to continue like this (laughs)."
Have you ever felt so loved by the fans?
"No. A message to the fans? Forza Milan and always fight."
