In a recent interview with the Italian magazine "Il Nuovo Calcio", AC Milan head coach Stefano Pioli discussed his tactical approach to the game.
On the evolution of his playing style:
"My playing style has certainly evolved over the years. This is due to my passion for the game, my curiosity, and my desire to stay up-to-date on the latest trends. I've been coaching for 20 years, and if I think about how we worked back then, compared to now, there have been major changes in every aspect of the game, from the technical-tactical side to physical preparation, communication, and relationships with players. Players themselves are completely different today, even compared to when I was a player. They are much more prepared, they demand a lot, and they sometimes expect too much, in terms of knowledge."
(Photo by Bernd Thissen/picture alliance via Getty Images)
On a typical day at Milanello:
"We start with a mandatory breakfast together, one hour before training begins. Players then do individual activation exercises according to personalized plans, with the fitness coaches or on their own. This includes injury prevention. Before going out on the field, the players do some aerobic work on the treadmill. Then we're off and running. Technical warm-up? Almost never. We do technical work before or after training, but almost always after, to be honest", said Pioli, "It's important to note that there are very few standard seven-day weeks during the season. The first three weeks of the year, for example, but after the first international break, we have seven games in 21 days. We did well in the preseason and in this period, we started early, with a nearly complete squad. We knew what we wanted to achieve."
On fullbacks playing inside:
"Where did this idea come from? From the preparation of my Italian colleagues. From the solution of playing man-to-man against several opponents, which forces you to find counter-moves. If you face teams that play man-to-man, you need to think about how to create difficulties for them, otherwise you'll have to win all the 1v1s. The first time we did this was against Atalanta. We used Calabria and Theo very 'inside' to take away their wingers. It's clear that I also take inspiration from what happens on the international stage. Guardiola has often used this solution."
Pioli added:
"The important thing for me is that the players know what they have to do. They're happy to do it. And that they have the right characteristics. Calabria is a natural midfielder. If I had full-backs who were only good at running, I would probably do something else. Players need to be put into an organization, into principles, into concepts that give you a certain balance. Once the idea is born, we use videos, we go on the field, and when we perceive that they understand it, it's done."
On the tactical strategy of his Milan side:
Strategy for us means that we thoroughly study the opponent, evaluate what they offer in terms of exploitable spaces, where we can create numerical advantages or parity, and prepare for the match. It doesn't mean that we adapt to who we face, but we consider it to understand how, according to our principles, we can be dangerous. The study is meticulous, detailed. We need to know everything, for example, how they come to press you on the ball from the back, with how many men, in parity, in inferiority... Then, given our philosophy, they will always be in numerical inferiority. We have the goalkeeper who gives us the extra man. So we always play on principle. But there's another important aspect, learning to count", said Pioli, "Counting to understand if we're in numerical parity, in inferiority or superiority. In parity (and inferiority), we can't attack in that area, we have to move the ball, go to the other side of the field or somewhere else. This in possession. In non-possession, in parity we press, in inferiority we don't. Returning to when we have the ball, if they mark us man-to-man, it means we have, as already mentioned, a 3v3 or a 4v4 in the offensive zone. So we can exploit it. We have offensive elements with certain characteristics, we wanted them that way for this reason. However, every opponent, even choosing numerical parity, works differently. We, in the match preparation, have to know it. For example, Torino played 1v1, but left the goalkeeper free. Maignan had 8 individual ball possessions, an incredible thing. So we opened the center-backs and he advanced. The wide space wasn't for the fullbacks but for the center-backs. We study five matches of the opponents as a staff, I watch the last one. We examine how they press, how they come out on the fullbacks, on the low point, where they grant parity and where they give inferiority so that we understand in which areas we can prevail. We think of preparing the match so well that when the opponents propose something different, we intuit it immediately. Then you know, there's the video analyst in the stands and I, during the match, focus only on tactics. No complaints, no distractions. My concentration must be total. If on a low wing we think a central midfielder comes out and then a fifth does it, just to give an example, we immediately sense it. And above all, the player in question and his teammates know how to behave. By now, they've gone through a path with us, they know how to recognize certain spaces and what the opponents do. It shouldn't be a problem. You have to have plan A ready, and plan B and even plan C."
On his idea of the game:
"How can it be summarized? Simple. If the opponent is aggressive and wants to take the ball away from us immediately, he comes with many men and we have a high numerical parity, a 3vs3 or a 4vs4 depending on the choices. We have to know how to exploit it, we can go straight there. If they don't accept this and let us play, we try to control the game", declared Pioli.
On the championship:
"Juve are favorites because they don't have the cups? The tournament will be very competitive, the teams that can compete for the top positions are those. And not playing in the week helps. A lot. Going on the field every three days consumes you mentally at the beginning, then during the season also in terms of physical! After the break for the national teams, there was the derby, then the preparation for the game with Newcastle, then Verona.. there is a considerable expenditure of energy. In some ways, therefore, the Bianconeri are the real favorites."
On training and rest:
"I believe that the management of rest is essential. When I can, I am happy to grant a day off. And it is very appreciated, not because the boys do nothing, but because they recover and come back to training with a different desire. I prefer one less training session, but the one after that done to the maximum, than two half sessions at a discount. By the way, I forgot: I have also canceled the double sessions. Having a team that is not very reactive the day after does not serve me much."
