The AC Milan head coach, Stefano Pioli, spoke to Milan TV to discuss the victory of his side against Hellas Verona at the Bentegodi stadium. Here are his statements:
"We knew they would have retraced the positions of last season, because they changed the technical direction but not the principles of the game. It was a strange match, in the sense: we started very well, we could also close it but then, instead, we stretched out, we made technical mistakes that we usually don't make and we split the team a little bit in two. We allowed Verona to restart attacks a few times too many, but we had as usual, the ability to stay inside the difficulties, to stay inside the game and then the quality of being able to win it with a great play."
Pioli on the rest before the game against Monza:
"This is what we needed. We just managed to win the three games in a row (in Serie A), and this is an important victory because it gives us continuity. They continue to improve our numbers which are already excellent in the matches in the away matches... Then, a very important week awaits us with the league matches, with Monza, with the two of the Champions League and therefore in less than a month we will have many matches - 7 matches - so it will be very important to recover and work."
AC Milan are the only team who are unbeaten in the league away from home. Pioli commented:
"I have to say that I told the team just before entering the pitch and I bit my tongue a little because we were there playing with City and Barcelona. It occurred to me 'There is no two without three', so I tried to motivate the team by saying guys that we have a chance to improve. We played with great stubbornness, with the right clarity, especially in the difficult moments of the match."
