AC Milan will host Atalanta tomorrow in what will be a very important game for both teams who are aiming to secure a place in the top 4 positions. It will be a special game for Stefano Pioli, his 800th as coach and the best way to celebrate it is by winning in front of the Rossoneri loyal fans. Speaking to the media in a press conference, Pioli had the following words to say:
"Atalanta have all the characteristics of a great team: excellent organisation of the game, technique. It will be an open game, as always against them."
On conditions of some players:
"Ibra is getting better and better. As for Calabria and Bennacer, they will be in the team on Wednesday. Florenzi should be there in Florence (vs Fiorentina)."
On Mike Maignan:
"He is fine. He will play tomorrow. He is a player who hasn't played for 5 months. He is physically and mentally fit, but he will need to regain his rhythm and position, things he has not had for the past 5 months. Am I happy about his return? Absolutely."
On regaining experienced players back in the team, Pioli said:
"The more leadership players are available, the more convinced, confident and strong we feel. The technical-tactical aspect is important, but above all the mental one. We need personality and confidence to get the ball."
It'll be your 800th game as coach tomorrow...
"Honestly, I discovered it last night, it's a good goal. I absolutely don't want to stop here, I would like to reach 1,000 as Milan coach, even if it won't be easy. All my experiences have helped me to grow and improve. I hope there will be more appearances on the bench here in my future."
On Ismael Bennacer:
"He had a small muscle injury, ranging from 4 to 5 weeks. We tried to recover him with Tottenham due to list problems. He's fine, but he's working to get back to high intensity."
Again on Zlatan Ibrahimovic:
"The first call-up with Torino was to get him back to the group. Now, he's ready to play and could do so tomorrow."
Pioli on Rafael Leao's role in the new system and formation:
"It would be the wrong solution for a manager not to make one of the best players in the squad happy. He is, he often does what his intuition tells him."
On Charles De Ketelaere:
"I've talked a lot with Charles in recent months. I've never seen him so convinced as in recent weeks, he's doing very well. He's not just a good guy: with good guys I go and eat pizza, but he will win us games."
Pioli continued:
"It's difficult for me to make choices, I make them feeling sorry because everyone deserves to play, but there are many of us. What I see in their eyes during training is something that makes me proud. Everyone is ready."
On Atalanta's starlet Rasmus Hojlund:
"We had already seen him preparing for a match against Salzburg, he had an incredible game with Sturm Graz. He is different from the last forwards we have faced, he also goes deep: great attention will be needed."
Pioli on if he might return to a 4-man defence again:
"You can come back, even with the same players I put on the field. It's not the game system that makes us win matches, but the principles and qualities put on the field."
He added:
"We need to control the matches more. Against Monza we did well in the first half, in the second we lowered ourselves and the pressure was less. The defensive thirds have to step up with this interpretation. We always start from our characteristics, then clearly there is the study of the match and some positions can change, also to have a simpler construction and be dangerous."
On Charles De Ketelaere again, Pioli stated the following:
"On the centre-right where Brahim plays he can absolutely play, but also on the centre-left. The current positions are ideal for him. His shots on goal are increasing: the first goal will arrive."
He continued:
"There are 15 league games left and the Champions League, history will be made at the end. We have to think one game at a time: we are a strong team and we can win every game, but if we have our heads focused on this match."
On the recent narrow victories:
"In all three of the last few games we had the opportunity to close them and better manage the end of the match. We have to understand that, when those opportunities arrive, we need more attention and malice."
Pioli on surpassing the bad moment and aiming for tomorrow's clash:
"The difficult moment is gone, beyond tomorrow's match. I know the team, I see it. Then tomorrow is a direct match. This year we have never won four games in a row : it's a small goal to reach."
On Atalanta:
"It will depend a lot on the two attacking midfielders that Gasperini will field. Lookman and Boga are faster than those fielded in the past. Especially with Koopmeiners they are dangerous from distance."
