After the deserved victory against Tottenham, AC Milan's boss, Stefano Pioli, spoke to the microphones of Sky Sport Italia and said the following words:
"We played a good game against a physical, solid team. We could have passed the ball better, but we did many positive things. In London, it will be a difficult challenge, but this performance gives us even more spirit and strength to try to advance to the next round."
He added:
"Leao making room for Theo? We wanted pairs on the wings. If we stayed central, their defense with three defenders would require us to move a lot. We tried to send Diaz behind the two midfielders and Leao with some freedom, knowing that when our left flank gets moving, we have quality."
On Charles De Ketelaere, Pioli said:
"I agree. He needed more time than we thought to settle in and understand a new environment. He is better physically and mentally. Of course, I hoped for the goal and especially for him. I told him he would score when he came in. He works well, and the goal will come. He will find space and give us satisfaction."
On the team's playing style:
"For our mentality, we want to be intense, and we tried to be aggressive. We accepted many duels. We like to play this way, and at certain levels, you have to play this type of football. We had a break for our qualities. The players finally returned to smiling and playing with more lightness after the pressure we created for ourselves. We were a bit down when things didn't go well, and the team is definitely better now, and we will return to playing the type of football I like. From what I see in training, Milan has healed. We have become a great team again, and it is right to expect a lot from us."
About Malick Thiaw, Pioli said:
"Malick is a guy who has always worked very well. Players who believe in themselves and who may suffer from playing little but who train with even more attention, in the end, come out. The club has invested in talented young players, but unfortunately, not everyone who takes talented foreign young players can be ready right away, Kalulu and Leao needed their path. It is difficult to wait in Italy, but I always have confidence in my boys."
