Stefano Pioli, in view of the match away from home against Newcastle, has spoken to Sky sport Italia and said the following words:
The importance of the match:
"It's a final for us, it's the first real crossroads of the season, in the sense that staying in Europe is one of our objectives. We have a chance, which is to win without looking so much at the others. We are focused on that, so surely the motivation, attention, concentration, and determination of the team will be at the maximum."
He added:
"The Champions League enhances all the characteristics of preparation, concentration, desire, to do well on such a stage, that's clear, it's felt. It's equally clear that we have a chance, and we are focused on that."
What kind of team is Newcastle? Pioli replied:
"They are among the opponents that change the most in attitude, intensity, energy, and quality of performance between home and away games. At home, they have only lost once in the Champions League against Borussia and only once in the entire Premier League season against Liverpool. We expect a warm atmosphere, an energetic opponent, intense, and physical especially in approaching the match. It's clear that we need to know this, we need to be prepared to face this type of opponent and know that wanting to win these kinds of games requires high-level performances."
About the St. James's Park stadium, Pioli said:
"As soon as the draw was made last summer, all the guys, Tomori, Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, always said that it's the warmest, most passionate, and most energetic stadium in the entire Premier League, and we have already experienced stadiums like Anfield, like the Tottenham Stadium, like Stamford Bridge. We have seen what situations they want to provoke, especially at the beginning of the match and in which direction they want to take the game. We need to be prepared and play a great game because we have a great opportunity and we have to do everything to bring it home."
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