Stefano Pioli, AC Milan head coach, spoke to the media in a press conference a day before taking on Mihajlovic's Bologna. Here are his words:
"Honestly, I don't know if it's the right way to remember last year's matches. I'm interested in the performance of the team. I liked the performance, but I missed a little bit. Tomorrow, will be a difficult match against an opponent who will put us in the difficulty. We must combine victory with playing well."
On Ismael Bennacer:
"We are at the beginning of the season. We have only played two games and these are attitudes that we must carry over the long term. He has great qualities and I have no doubts. He has put his performances on the field and must continue like this. He has the qualities to be a complete midfielder."
On Chelsea's interest in Rafael Leao:
"I have no other thoughts than preparing for the next matches. Leao must continue to think about improving. He is always motivated and willing."
On Charles De Ketelaere possibly starting tomorrow against Bologna:
"I trust him because he has great potential. He can be ready to start from the beginning. He needs time. He has intelligence, curiosity in understanding the movements and working methods. In that role I have many choices. Let's see from game to game."
On the Champions League group:
"It's a completely different group from last year. We need to start from a concrete basis: the Champions League requires high-level performances. In terms of quality and pace, you have to be at the top. We have our cards to play and we mustn't underestimate anyone. One match at a time as always, we have to show that last year's experience has helped us."
On the team's attitude:
"What I see in my players is precisely the attitude. We did not face Atalanta with superficiality, but with determination and courage. We entered history with the Scudetto, but we want to write more pages."
Pioli on the midfield vs Atalanta:
"It is not true that we were outnumbered in midfield. We forced Pasalic to chase after Tonali. For Kessie I remember that last year you asked me why he always played and now we regret him. But now we want to win again."
On Hateboer's intervention on Leao last week:
"For the fouls, there was a big foul, not a yellow one, where the VAR had to intervene."
Pioli on Yacine Adli:
"I'm happy for the birth of his daughter. He is available for tomorrow, I like him a lot but I have to make some choices because I have many strong players. But the time will come when he will find space. I see it difficult that he can play as a midfielder, perhaps as a mid-wing within the 3-man midfield."
On Divock Origi and Olivier Giroud:
"Tomorrow, one of them should be the starter. From tomorrow we will play 7 games in 21 days. This year, there are no starters. We need all the players."
On Theo Hernandez:
"He is a top player and he must continue like this. For the strength and potential he has he must only think about growing. Defensively he is now a difficult player to overcome."
On Simon Kjaer:
"Simon is fine, he gave me positive feelings. Fik and Pierre's performances are high, his recovery is positive news."
On his midfield alternatives, Pioli said:
"Baka had some problems at the beginning, then there's Pobega. We'll see them on the pitch in the next matches. We also have other strong players. Playing every three days with intense matches it becomes difficult for anyone to maintain a certain level. There will be targeted rotations."
Will Milan sign a defender or a midfielder in the mercato?
"It is a matter of names and not of numbers. If there is the possibility of introducing players to improve the squad, the club is ready to do so."
On planning to improve in Europe:
"This is what we want to do. The English teams are throwing money that for us is not conceivable. In these three years, we have shown that with compactness and determination you can do important things. It is clear that the Champions League demands a level that is very high."
How do you rate your players?
"Tomorrow is the most important match. For tomorrow I will play the best match, also based on the opponents. With Sassuolo it could be different, depending on the condition and performance of the individual. If I have availability, my choices will be more difficult. but at the same time easier. In the Champions League? We have to think that through the path we can raise the level. In the past years the Italians have shown that they are under the eight European clubs. We want to measure ourselves with enthusiasm."
On Bologna:
"Moving the ball well and quickly is always an excellent solution. We are working well to send the players in depth but we have to be more lucid. The positions on the field that we will see tomorrow will be different from Atalanta and Sassuolo."
