AC Milan's head coach, Stefano Pioli, spoke to the microphones of DAZN after the crucial victory against Juventus. Here are his words:
On the season's assessment:
"It's time for assessments. The Champions League gave us more than we expected, but also a lot of bitterness as we exited in the semi-final against Inter. In the league, we achieved less than we could have: reaching the Champions League is a beautiful objective. This year was the first time we tried to be competitive on two fronts, and we fell short in some aspects, that's the truth. The team is strong, let's enjoy the victory. It was also a unique season: we played five months without Maignan, the best goalkeeper in the league. And our best players participated in the World Cup."
On what was said to the players in the circle at the end:
"They spoke, as it should be: they were the protagonists. We wanted to perform well tonight to avoid reaching the last game. They celebrated as they should, and I can only thank them: we had ups and downs, but the group never stopped believing in the work, in staying united."
On summer reinforcements, Pioli said:
"It always depends on the expectations we want to achieve. If we want to be competitive to win the league and reach the Champions League semifinals, it's clear that the team needs improvement. To compete in two competitions of this level, strong players are needed. If they are young, I'm happy because they are sponges and enthusiastic. If the club wants to be competitive in both competitions, they clearly need to build a competitive squad. It was easier to play in last year's Milan than in this one: the responsibilities lie with everyone, and it requires patience, although I understand that it may be lacking. If we focus on young players, we have to wait. There's no need to always mention examples like Leao and Tonali. I believe the club should stick to its idea."
Is this the club's desire?
"I am the coach, you should ask Maldini and Massara, who are the intermediaries with the owners, and they will know what they will have at their disposal."
Would you change the formation used in February? Pioli answered:
"In a season of choices that can be changed, there are many, but I don't think that's one of them. We had reached a point where we weren't a team anymore, and let's not forget that we remained an aggressive team. That system of play allowed us to overcome Tottenham, that's the only way we could have done it. Then, when our players' condition improved, we returned to playing with the 4-2-3-1."
