AC Milan boss, Stefano Pioli, spoke to Milan TV to discuss the Scudetto triumph again, his first trophy in his managerial career.
Here are his words:
"In the course of a season, all the games are important, all have been decisive. Some we have defined as heavier than others such as direct confrontations but even those that on paper seemed simpler in the end turned out to be complicated. Success is due to the continuity we have had from start to finish, never losing sight of our way of playing, our qualities, our characteristics and believing in what we did. This has been the secret of our players."
Who did you call first after winning the Scudetto?
"The first phone call I made was to my mom who didn't feel like coming to the stadium, all the other people in my family were there who have always followed me. She knows that I have won something important and has always been proud and happy with my journey, both as a player and as a coach. I did everything I wanted and I think it is the best thing to make a job out of one's passion, my parents have always been close to me. We are three brothers, a family like many others but with a great passion for football."
Pioli added:
"I never paid much attention to what was said outside, it's also normal, but I've always had my idea. I have done well many times but to win it takes a few things: management, club and high-level players. When I got them, I won too. I thank the club, Maldini and Massara who chose me when they could choose other colleagues and supported me especially in delicate moments. It's easy to argue when things go well, when results come. A synergy has been created between us that has allowed us to dialogue, discuss, often confront each other and this has led to finding solutions and improving my work."
He continued:
"We did not feel satisfied with last season's goal, this is thanks to the mix between experienced players, with an incredible mentality, Zlatan, Simon, Olivier, they always want to compete to win and they passed it on to the youngest who thought they could improve and grow. From the first day we met, we thought about improving the last championship and I often repeated to them: 'But if we still finish second, would we be happy? No', this motivation has pushed us to try to grow and work with determination to do better and better."
On Rafael Leao and Sandro Tonali:
" I saw in the first training session that they had improved, something had happened, something clicked. It happens to young and talented players, I found guys willing and diligent. I found them changed after the holidays, maybe they needed to metabolize and focus."
Pioli on the fans:
"I am now understanding what our path and the emotions of the fans have been. The chant for me (Pioli's on fire) moves me, the best thing is that they did it to me when I still hadn't won anything. Fans know how to recognize the quality and professionalism of those who work in their club and this is a more beautiful recognition than many other titles or newspaper articles that may exist from now on. They send me esteem and respect that fills me with pride."
On the work of the group:
"There is availability on the part of everyone, for many it was a two and a half year journey in which they laid the foundations to have very clear game concepts. We prepare game by game to find advantageous solutions in both phases of the game and they are not always the same as in the previous game because the opponents and their positions change. We take them into consideration while maintaining our style of play, our identity and our mentality which I think have been our best weapons."
On Paolo Maldini:
"When Paolo speaks, you have to listen and understand what is in the DNA of our club and our history. Today we are celebrating and it is right because it was an important year with an incredible result but we still have to think about raising the bar and improving ourselves next year too because we are Milan, the story we have just started to write is part of a glorious past and we want to try to get back to being competitive both in Italy and in Europe, thinking about doing better and having such motivated players is the right way to keep thinking big."
Pioli on the Champions League experience with Milan:
"Much of the team's growth lies in that experience there. We understood where the high level is, we tried to climb step by step to get closer. Obviously we met fantastic teams, Liverpool also made it to the final. The competition helped us and motivated us too, even the non-positive performances against Porto made us understand how different the intensity and quality of European football is. The goal is also to compete in Europe against very strong formations. The Champions League is of the highest level, being in the first bracket can help us but it is clear that we will have to be strong and competitive to get through the group."
On the support Pioli is getting:
"It's nice to feel loved, it gratifies me so much and fills me with emotions, I'm savoring and enjoying them all. From tomorrow, we will already be focused for next season, to improve and intervene but now let's enjoy it because we have made an incredible effort to get here."
