AC Milan's head coach, Stefano Pioli, spoke to the media in a press conference today ahead of tomorrow's Serie A clash with Juventus. Here are his words:
Have these days of rest been helpful in regaining energy? What kind of Juventus do you expect?
"I hope so, we haven't had a clean week in a long time. It has certainly been good for us. It's Juventus-Milan, and we will face a determined and focused Juventus. They, along with Napoli, have earned the most points in home matches. It's the end of the season, and we have to do everything we can to secure fourth place or even better."
Two years ago, Juventus was also decisive for entering the Champions League:
"It will be a continuation of a journey that has seen very positive results and also some disappointments. Let's never forget where we started from. By winning tomorrow, we will definitely be in the Champions League. It would be a continuation of a journey that has had its ups and downs in the league this year."
On the future:
"It's not the time to talk about it; it's too important to finish the season well. There will be time to talk about the future, the transfer market, and renewals. This is not the moment."
Which midfielder do you prefer in the attacking midfield position?
"When my press officer taps her fingernail, it means the question... Let's talk about tomorrow's match; there is time for the transfer market. Tomorrow, we will play with Brahim in the attacking midfield position. He is talented and has provided good solutions for us. It's never just one individual who makes the difference but the team's work. Tomorrow, we have to deliver a high-level performance."
What do you expect from Juventus:
"It's not our concern; we know how to approach the game. We know they will play their best match possible. We want to try to secure our Champions League qualification before the final matchday. It's true that we have been successful on the final matchday in recent years, but it would be better not to rely on that."
If Atalanta and Roma don't win... Are you calculating or do you want to perform without calculations? Pioli said:
"We cannot predict how today's matches will go. We know that we have to deliver a great performance against a high-level opponent. They have had a slightly better season than us in the league but a weaker performance in the Champions League. However, they are a quality team with great players and a coach. We need to perform at a high mental and technical level, and today's results won't change our approach."
Regarding Juventus' penalty...
"It's clear that we all agree that the timing is not what one would hope for in a regular season. Removing or adding points doesn't benefit anyone. We hope that it's a definitive decision, but we also hope that better timing can be found to avoid causing disruptions to anyone."
Maldini said that if you qualify for the Champions League, it would be an 8 out of 10 season... What about your rating?
"I wouldn't give any rating until the end of the season. We can still finish second, third, fourth, fifth, or sixth. It's pointless to make such evaluations at this moment."
How much do you consider finishing third instead of fourth? Pioli answered:
"Our pride and ambition are to win tomorrow and secure our qualification in advance, without waiting for the last match and the last week. It seems you're in a tremendous hurry. Just wait for 8 days to understand our balance, my evaluations. One thing I want to emphasize is that we have always fairly shared the merits, and here at Milanello, we always share any potential responsibilities evenly. Our approach is constructive and cohesive, not to find someone to blame but to find solutions and strive for improvement."
Next week, there's a possibility of bidding farewell to Ibra at San Siro as a player. Have you discussed his future?
"Honestly, we've been very focused on our recent commitments. I haven't discussed Zlatan's intentions and ambitions for the future. He is determined to recover from his injury, and next week will be crucial to determine if he will be able to participate in the match against Verona."
Regarding Leao and Maldini's words to help him improve, Pioli said:
"Rafa's growth is continuous and consistent. Above all, I believe in his attitude. He has changed his approach, and he can only continue this growth. He has everything to become one of the best in the world. But to become a champion, you need to have an obsession, an obsession that makes you think about how to improve every day, how to do a little more and a little better. Rafa has that in his mind; he has this obsession. He just needs to keep improving and continue like this. As for how far he will go... he is still young and not fully developed from a football perspective. This year of experience has been good for his growth."
On June 10th, who are you rooting for in the Champions League final?
"May the best team win."
Both in the previous matches and in the challenges before, Juventus gave you a bit of a hard time. Do you think it was a result of the moment or is there something particularly football-related?
"Compared to two years ago, we have made many changes, and even compared to the first leg match, there will be different players with different characteristics. The important thing is to be a team and for the players on the field tomorrow to form a disciplined and compact team. We are playing against a team that can strike at any moment. They have players of great quality. In the first leg, I remember we played Theo as a central midfielder. Perhaps tomorrow he will have a different role. So things and preparations are not all the same."
Pioli on whether the club is already thinking of the transfer market window:
"Definitely, absolutely yes. The next season is not prepared from June 5th but has been prepared for some time, and they are very engaged in this."
How do you judge Fikayo Tomori's season?
"Fik is very strong, very aggressive. His aggressiveness has often given us fantastic results, but at times he needs to be more thoughtful. He is improving, coming from a strong team where he didn't play much, and he was immediately very ready."
Has the Milan midfield had some shortcomings this year?
"I understand the question, but in my opinion, it's not correct. It's not a department that determines the numbers and decides the final result. If we work together as a team, everyone benefits in a certain way. We play with 11 players because it's a collective game, not a matter of individuals or departments. There have been games where we played as a team and performed well, and other games where we played more individually and didn't perform as well in terms of team play."
Pioli, against Sampdoria, there were a few long passes...
"Most of the choices in possession of the ball are dictated by the positions of the opponents. Against Sampdoria, we found spaces to play between the lines. When we only play on the wings, we can become more predictable. We have had difficulties against defensive teams, but it hasn't been very different from last year... We need to find better alternatives to our style of play."
As an Emilian and as a coach, what do you say to the fans in the Curva who are helping in Emilia?
"I'm sorry that the fans won't be present tomorrow; they deserved to be here. But once again, they have shown that they are unique and special, by doing a noble action that makes us proud to have them as fans."
What happened to Ante Rebic this season?
"He had a less happy season than the previous one. In football it can happen."
What limits do you need to overcome in tomorrow's match and in general for the coming years with Milan?
"It's not about overcoming limits, it's about showing what makes the difference. I believe that for the team we are, we have to prove ourselves to be great tomorrow. If you coach Milan, you have to aspire to reach the highest levels, you have to dream big."
Pioli on the tactical setup to face Juventus tomorrow:
"Juventus have a defensive phase where they alternate. Sometimes they are very aggressive, other times they wait. Having width is always very important, and we will try to take positions that allow us to control the game."
Juventus is always very dangerous on set pieces. What can be done?
"Don't concede corners and free kicks. They are a very strong team, along with Roma, they are one of those who have scored the most. They have tall players and many good timing jumpers."
Being worried helps to prepare better. Has the team been sufficiently worried this week?
"Absolutely yes, we have a big goal to achieve. I've seen all the right situations that I needed to see."
