AC Milan head coach Stefano Pioli, has spoken to the media in the press conference in view of RB Salzburg - AC Milan game in the Champions League.
Here are his words:
"The derby? We archived the success in the derby the next morning, this is another game and a different competition. Now there is a complicated opponent, in the last season at home in the Champions League they never lost."
On the goal in this year's Champions League campaign:
"Demonstrating that last year's experience has served us well and that we have grown. We only have to think about tomorrow's match, starting with a positive result would be important."
On Gerry Cardinale:
"The meeting with Cardinale was very positive, a person with great passion and charisma. Milan is a solid club."
On the experience of playing Champions League football as Italian champions:
"We have to play with enthusiasm but respecting our opponents, with awareness of our qualities and characteristics."
Pioli on the formation:
"I will make the choices tomorrow morning in the final training session. Today, it seemed to me that they were all fine, this is important. For the rotations, I had already prepared them before but the matches will tell me how to interpret them from time to time."
On Rade Krunic and Alessandro Florenzi's conditions:
"Krunic has been included in the Champions League list because we believe that from the next Champions League match he may be available. Florenzi? We are waiting for the updates from the medical staff."
Which match of RB Salzburg did you focus on?
"We have seen them all, even the friendlies. We believe we have prepared the game well but our opponents know how to move very well: a complete team to be faced with respect but at the same time with great determination."
Pioli added:
"Tomorrow's match will be a good test (when asked about the team's level and intensity). Salzburg is of the highest level in terms of quality and pace. We have prepared ourselves to put our qualities on the field."
The boss concluded:
"They have a lot of very strong prospective players who will probably be able to retrace the footsteps of Haaland and Mane (both played for RB Salzburg). They are a very strong team that we respect."
Stefano Pioli, head coach of AC Milan, waits for the start of the Italian Serie A football match between Sassuolo and AC Milan at the Mapei Stadium in Reggio Emilia, Italy, on August 30, 2022. (Photo by Riccardo De Luca/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
