AC Milan's head coach, Stefano Pioli, spoke to the media in a press conference after the victory at the San Siro against Lecce. Here are his words:
"If this Leao version can climb up the Ballon d'Or rankings? I like this lack of balance, three months ago everything was a mess... Rafa is strong, and to do well we need strong players like Theo and Maignan. But now we need to stay focused: we have a direct clash with Roma to play, and not think about things we can't determine."
A game much different from the first leg...
"Now we are a different team: mentally and physically, playing for our own qualities and characteristics... We won a difficult game, we could have been more dangerous."
How is Alessandro Florenzi?
"Florenzi is doing well, I chose Kalulu for one-on-one battles on the wings."
Does Rade Krunic resemble Marcelo Brozovic?
"He certainly has personality. He came from a smaller team than Milan, and he needs to find his certainties. He's one of the many starters for Milan. I'm very happy for him, he deserves it."
Pioli, what's wrong with Zlatan Ibrahimovic?
"He felt something in his calf and stopped... I thought of playing him, but he told me he wasn't available. I don't know the extent of it, but he had something."
Second place in the Serie A rankings isn't too far away...
"The goal is to score many points and surpass those ahead of us. We have three direct clashes. We have all the possibilities to score many points, but it's the direct clashes that will determine the final standings. Today was important, Saturday will be even more so."
Is there a game you would replay? Pioli replied with the following statement:
"There are many... I like to think that the best is yet to come."
