AC Milan head coach, Stefano Pioli, speaks to the media in today's press conference in view of tomorrow's clash against the Fiorentina team in Florence.
Here are his words:
"Davide Astori? I'm sure he'll be smiling. In Florence it's always special for me and tomorrow it will be more so. Davide is always with me, fate is like this. I'm happy that there is an association in his name to do good. He would have appreciated it too."
Are you thinking of the Champions League already?
"Tomorrow's match is very important, then we'll think about the Champions League. Milan and Fiorentina are two similar teams, we want to keep winning."
How is Charles De Ketelaere:
"In every game, every player must think about being decisive. Tomorrow Diaz will not be there due to a slight knee sprain, so tomorrow it will be Charles' turn."
Pioli on Juventus:
"We don't look at the standings, every game is important."
Is it time to push further?
"It's time to give continuity to results and performances. We are the ones who condition our performances. We must continue to play matches with attention and determination. We have recovered important players, tomorrow there will also be Florenzi and Calabria among the squad."
On Malick Thiaw and Ismael Bennacer:
"He has great application, defenders must never give up. Malick knows it. He's still young but has excellent characteristics to become a great defender. Bennacer? Yes he will be summoned."
When will Ibrahimovic be able to start?
"He will soon be able to do it. He has great desire, his return is very important for us. Training with and without Zlatan is different."
Pioli on what must be done to raise the bar:
"Just train like the team did, with maximum attention and availability in preparation for the match. We will certainly put in the best performance tomorrow. We know the importance of the London match, but we will have time to recover our energy."
Thiaw's agent said that this success of the defender was already planned... Why didn't you play him earlier?
"I have to make choices. If I didn't choose him before, it's because I thought some teammates were more ready than him."
Gerry cardinale said he does not talk to you about the formation...
"I talk a lot with Maldini and Massara. Cardinale I often hear from him after matches and never before. He knows that the coach has to handle certain situations."
How are Yacine Adli and Aster Vranckx:
"They're working well, they're ready to play. Then I'll make the choices."
How is Brahim Diaz doing?
"He had a slight sprain, we will do everything to recover him for Tottenham."
Can Olivier Giroud rest tomorrow:
"Turnover doesn't exist. The best team will play."
On Vincenzo Italiano's teams:
"He's one of the best young coaches. It's difficult for everyone to play against Fiorentina. There will be difficulties tomorrow too."
On the importance of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Mike Maignan's returns:
"If their returns were the reasons to winning again? No, there's more: there's the work and the quality of the players. Then we're talking about players who raise the level of the team."
Pioli, do your strikers need to score more goals?
"Last season, we did not have a 25-goal striker, but we're a team that can have more players who can score. Then again, I would be happy if the strikers scored a lot, mostly for their own sake. The work they are doing is very important. Turnover doesn't exist, the best team plays. Could the formation change tomorrow."
Can the formation change tomorrow?
"Our goal is to play from wing to wing. We often attack with 5 players, with the player farthest from the ball attacking the second post. Tomorrow we'll attack the same way, but it depends on the opponent. Then the secret is to be compact."
How is the squad now? Pioli replied with:
"The spirit is excellent, victories give you certainty and confidence."
Can Ante Rebic be useful again?
"He's important for us, he has different characteristics from Leao but he can help the team."
Was the drop in January caused by the anomaly of this season with the World Cup in December?
"We had some difficulties", admitted Pioli, "The season is anomalous for everyone, some paid more, some less. We paid a fairly high price, but now we have the opportunity to recover something."
