AC Milan's head coach, Stefano Pioli, has spoken to the media about the coming game between Napoli and the Rossoneri team. Here are his words in today's press conference:
"They have the desire to change this moment. We are coming for the first time from two consecutive defeats in two direct clashes, and we will have to prove on the field that we have the qualities of a consistent team. When you play against opponents like this, you have to be focused for 90 minutes, and that's what we want to do."
Napoli for a turning point?
"I think in sports and in everyday life, you can't dwell on what you did until yesterday, it's already history. You can't think about what we'll do in May or next year. You have to live in the present, and the next match is the most important. This week, the matches didn't go as we wanted, we made mistakes that we made less often in the past, and we paid dearly for them. Tomorrow is the opportunity to show that we are a better team."
The team's mood:
"Days of work, attention, discussions with the team as I always do, trying to raise the level of the team and many situations, the situations that saw us struggling."
One-on-ones conceded in defence, Pioli said:
"We have our way of playing that we absolutely have to stick to, but it's clear that there are situations where we have to be more attentive, more reflective. We certainly won't change our style of play."
Is the Scudetto a goal?
"We work with an ambitious ownership, an ownership that has structured the club to have many options and think big. They've made the team competitive. Our goal is to win the Scudetto, that's for sure. It's not just us who want to win it, but our goal must be this."
It's said that Milan returned from Paris with frayed nerves... Pioli responded:
"Frayed nerves, yes, and it's right because we give our all to achieve things and we didn't succeed. Tense nerves are right, it's only natural that we return from such a defeat and we're serene and smiling. On the contrary, everything's clear. Some untrue things were reported to me in the press room, which created a bit of confusion. But everything's fine, everything's clear, and we move forward."
The clarification with Davide Calabria:
"You are the one who reported it incorrectly because he wasn't talking about his teammates, but about the environment. We believe in ourselves, we work in a certain way at Milanello, we give everything, and we'll believe in it until the end. But there's no problem. I talk to the players, we've clarified things."
The goal problem, are there alternative solutions?
"Of course, we're working on it, it's the aspect that is penalizing us the most. We're missing the final pass, the finish, filling the area with an extra player. Jovic and Okafor are doing well, they're called up and available."
Past controversies with Rudi Garcia:
"I said that we shouldn't dwell on yesterday, and you're going back to years ago... Garcia is an excellent coach, he naturally faced difficulties as a new coach, but now he's on the right track. He's missing Osimhen, but it's also true that last season without Osimhen they achieved great results and only lost to us. He's a high-level coach."
On Khvicha Kvaratskhelia:
"A player to be taken into great consideration, he can be very dangerous in one-on-one situations."
The midfield scores little, only one goal. Does it fill the area poorly?
"We need to fill the area more, yes, we often go for one-on-ones on the wings and we cross more compared to last season. We need to fill the area not only with the midfielders but also with the opposite wide forward. I believe that Tijjani has the characteristics to do better, both in the final pass and in the finishes because he's a player who has always scored goals. If I look back at the match against PSG, in the first half, we recovered many more balls than them in the opponent's half, there we could have really hurt them, but we lacked the final pass, the shot on goal, or the final movement. These are situations we need to try to force because we can't expect to change our results like this, we need a different attitude and higher quality to become dangerous in front of goal."
How is Ruben Loftus-Cheek?
"He's important for our offensive phase in terms of physicality and quality, but we also have other characteristics and we can be dangerous even without him. He has recovered from the injury he had in that specific muscle, the pectineus, now he's suffering from a pubic/abdominal inflammation. Every day he seems to be getting better, he just needs to take the final step to return to the team, he definitely won't be with us tomorrow. There's a good chance he'll recover for the next match. Unfortunately, from a psychological point of view, he's a guy who has had many injuries in the past, so he needs a bit of guidance and support. He started really well, and now he needs a bit of support."
Are there things that need to be improved in defense? Pioli replied:
"Yes, we've worked on it in recent days. Being aggressive doesn't mean being exposed and always accepting one-on-ones. We need to read the situations much better when the ball is covered, and we can be aggressive, when it's not, we need to be a bit more reflective. These are all things that need to be perfected and improved, but it shouldn't change the team's mental attitude. Then, specifically in defensive situations, we can definitely do better."
Why isn't Theo as impactful anymore?
"In my opinion, we're developing a slightly different offensive phase on the left, so it's natural that he's a bit less explosive on the wing and more of a support. He knows he's very strong and that he needs to raise the level. I have a strong feeling that on Wednesday, contrary to what happened with Chelsea last year, we were close to the highest level, but we need to take steps forward; Theo is one of those players who can help us reach that level."
What has changed between Spalletti and Garcia?
"In the defensive phase, not much has changed: a 4-4-2. With the ball, they prefer possession and controlling the game: it's hard to see significant differences from last season. Maybe Raspadori can connect the game more, Simeone, whom I know well, is better at attacking the area and depth."
Rade Krunic - Yacine Adli rivalry?
"It's natural that it has arisen because they occupy the same position: I see one starting, the other on the bench. Both know how to play well in that position with different characteristics. I'm happy with their performances and how they're interpreting the role specifically."
Could we go back to 4-2-3-1?
"In the defensive phase, we're often in a 4-2-3-1 and we will be tomorrow as well, then when we have possession, we take different positions. Then it will be the matches, the opponents, and the performances that will tell us where to change something. I'm always very attentive to what is needed to improve when we realize that there's something specific that can help us grow as a team."
According to some, Stefano Pioli is presumptuous...
"I'm convinced of what I do, I prepare, study, watch, update myself, I know my players well, and I try to convince them of my beliefs. If I come across as presumptuous... I don't think I am, but I can't convince everyone. I have to think about my players."
What needs to be improved?
"It's not all about starting over, as it may seem, but improving the small situations that, at that level, weigh more in a group that is many times more difficult than last year's. Against PSG, we need to win at home, it will be a decisive watershed. I see a team that is aware and eager."
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