AC Milan face Inter tomorrow night for the super cup trophy. Stefano Pioli sat down with the media there to present the clash as he said the following words:
"The super cup is an important trophy. We're playing against our rivals, the ones we managed to beat in the last championship and in the last two derbies we played. All games in which we had to overcome difficulties. This trophy is very important. We started winning last year, but only one competition. It would mean giving continuity to a path, it would mean increasing our level and our mentality."
Pioli added:
"We know that last week hasn't been the best, but it's a game in itself. The derby is another story and the trophy is up for grabs and that will raise the level of the match, as will raise the level of the team."
He continued:
"It doesn't count for anything for the championship, we'll think about it from Friday. Tomorrow, we'll need energy and enthusiasm. We're here with merit because we deserved to win the Scudetto: we want to fight for this."
On the importance of winning the trophy:
"It's certainly important because we lost the first objective. The season doesn't end tomorrow night. Everything that revolves around us is exaggerated, both positive and negative."
Pioli, are the players perhaps less 'hungry' now?
"Our environment is full of clichés. How does such a young team get it after winning only one trophy? Only one word in mind: quality of play. If we lower it, it gets harder to win."
On the physical condition of the team:
"Being still for almost 50 days and resuming play every 3 days, both for the players at the World Cup and for those who stayed here, is heavy. Over the course of a season it is impossible for everyone not to go through moments of 100% readiness. Only one team hasn't had a decline yet and that is Napoli."
On Inter:
"They are strong opponents who have often put us in difficulty, but we will have our plan, our strategy to put them in difficulty."
On the difficult moment which the Rossoneri are going through currently:
"There are delicate moments. We overcame them thinking of always working better and being more and more of a team. Tomorrow we play a final: it's a moment of pride, enthusiasm and energy."
On the game vs Lecce:
"Milan is not the one we saw in Lecce in the first half. our journey we have demonstrated the qualities we have and tomorrow I expect to see that quality."
Pioli on the defence:
"We need to defend better, rediscovering greater defensive compactness. We made mistakes in some situations where we usually don't make mistakes."
On Cristiano Ronaldo who met with Rafael Leao at the hotel where Milan are staying:
"His arrival in Saudi football will give more and more visibility to a football in full development."
Pioli on his experience so far:
"I've certainly learned more from my negative experiences. I don't think it's a tough time for Milan because they haven't played a Supercup as a winner for a long time. There's a lot between winning and not winning the final."
