AC Milan head coach, Stefano Pioli, has spoken to the Serie A channel on Youtube to talk about his experience so far with the Rossoneri and the recent success in winning the Scudetto among other topics. Here are his statemetns:
"It's been 3 years of emotions, hard work and collaboration at a huge club. Above all, this pathway with my players has seen us adopt the idea and mentality that we need to keep improving, so it’s certainly been 3 very positive years."
On the support from the club directors and management:
"A coach has to be lucky to work with competent directors who support you, give you advice and can discuss things with, and I think Maldini and Massara are the perfect pair. I get on very well with them. Of course, working together for 3 years means we know and relate to one another better. Their presence is so important for me and the team. I was very confident throughout particularly because the club put together a squad of players with huge potential and talent, so when you combine talent with potential, commitment and a desire to improve, of course, you have to aim high."
On the work done to win the Scudetto with AC Milan, Pioli said:
"This is AC Milan, so we had to try to bring back success and achieving what we did last season was certainly a happy moment. Winning the Scudetto with such a young squad certainly gave us more belief in our ability, style of play and what we do on the pitch. It’s true that we then became a target for our opponents,so that’s why we have to keep thinking about raising our level if we want to compete to win more silverware."
Pioli on his dedicated tattoo for the Scudetto victory:
"The tattoo is on a very important part of my body (arm) and we hope to add another one next season. Milan’s triumphant Scudetto race last season had more than one turning point. One of them, perhaps less celebrated than the Derby win against Inter, was the Rossoneri’s trip to Verona, on the third-to-last matchday. We knew only one result would do in our Scudetto bid and I think the team showed just how mentally strong we were. It’s not easy if you go behind away to Verona, but the players kept believing in their ability and what we were doing on the pitch, so we had the quality, desire, stubbornness and determination to turn it around in difficult circumstances."
On the next step for Milan:
"Verona away is always a tough one to prepare for. They’re always a physical and intense team that are difficult to get the better of. Of course, we have a few aces up our sleeve and the qualities we want to show, so it’ll certainly require good preparation as it’ll be tough."
He added:
"I think that a coach’s job entails motivating your players by using all the means you feel appropriate. I know the squad well and how my players feel."
Pioli concluded:
"Above all, I know about the games we play in and the experiences we have, so I have to try to ensure they’re fully focused because we have a big task ahead of us this year. It motivates us as well, so we always try to reach our full potential."
