AC Milan's head coach, Stefano Pioli, spoke to the media in today's press conference ahead of facing Salernitana in tomorrow's Serie A fixture at the San Siro. Here are the gaffer's words:
"We have to get back into the championship with great determination. If we want to relive certain emotions we're experiencing in the Champions League, we have to finish in the top four. I saw what I wanted to see this week, we're focused."
How is the team doing?
"The team is doing well physically, mentally, tactically. There are many things we can do better. On Wednesday, we took an important step for our growth. We worked hard when there were many processes outside, we were united and tried to understand what wasn't working. The whole season that will come from tomorrow onwards will be decisive."
"What will Milan be? The best Milan in the most absolute way. It's an important match. What we did yesterday doesn't count anymore. What we do tomorrow is what counts."
Will Zlatan Ibrahimovic play tomorrow?
"No, not tomorrow. But he will be available soon. It depends on many factors. He has been improving and training more consistently in the past few weeks. He won't start from the beginning tomorrow, but he will be there to help us."
Pioli on Rafael Leao:
"Above all, we can improve by serving him better. He made 4-5 deep runs, and if we had passed to him accurately, he would have likely found himself in front of the goalkeeper. Everyone can do even more."
He added:
"We can improve in terms of our game choices. In the first half against Tottenham, we could have dribbled much better, and there are many aspects of our game that we can improve. De Ketelaere? He is doing well, as are many players in his role. We'll see how he performs tomorrow."
On Daniel Maldini and Aster Vranckx:
"Honestly, I didn't see the Spezia-Inter match, but I did see Daniel's goal. I won't comment on it. Right now, we're only focused on winning in the league. The defeat in Florence disrupted our continuity. As for Vranckx's future, it's still too early to establish."
Pioli continued:
"Compared to last season, we're doing better in Europe and not as well in the league. Being able to put Milan in the Champions League for three years in a row is our goal. From now on, every game will be crucial and important, and we need to push hard starting from tomorrow night."
Did Leao hide a bit against Tottenham?
"Rafa moved very well. We found few spaces in the first half and didn't serve him at the right times. I keep saying that Rafa is the player with the most freedom in his movements, and he needs to look for spaces and offensive solutions. Salernitana is a compact team, and we need to be good at understanding where to find the solutions."
On Davide Calabria and Alessandro Florenzi:
"Saelemaekers played as a right wing-back in Belgium and has the same characteristics as Messias to play wide on the right. Calabria can play as the third and fifth in this system with different characteristics. Florenzi can play as the fifth."
Which goal do you focus more on? The Champions League competition or the top four finish in Serie A?
"We are talking about the Cup and we still have a month and four league matches before the quarter-finals. We are not thinking about that, especially given what I have seen from my players in recent days. Italian championship has coaches who prepare carefully to counteract the opponent, so there will be difficulties. The goal of finishing in the top four is not secondary to anything, it is a priority. We just have to think about earning many points and playing well. We must carry a lot of positivity from this nice passage of the round to put on the field tomorrow", said Pioli.
On Brahim Diaz:
"He is a complete player, with his own characteristics. He is a high-quality player, with creativity, hard work, and sacrifice. I work very well with Brahim, he is doing very well. It's only March, we'll see later."
On Charles De Ketelaere, Pioli stated:
"He had a moment before the break when he wasn't particularly brilliant even in training. He is physically and mentally fit, and he is improving. He is ready to contribute."
On Salernitana:
"They occupy positions similar to Tottenham's, and we have to be careful to control the game against a team that defends very well and can counter-attack very quickly."
Pioli on AC Milan's Champions League journey:
"If we are now feared? I don't know, you have to ask others. When the draw comes, there will be 8 high-level teams. I don't think anyone will be happy to face us."
On difficulties against smaller teams:
"We have to play with great precision and intensity, with a mental attitude that we know how to put on the field."
