AC Milan's head coach, Stefano Pioli, has spoken to the media in a pess conference ahead of tomorrow's Serie A clash against Napoli.
Here ae his wods:
Is there much difference between Spalletti and Mazzarri?
"The characteristics and qualities, no, the numbers of shots and chances created are still important."
Last year the right move was to put Ismael Bennacer on Lobotka, will the key still be in that area of the field?
"In many games, the most important area is the midfield, even though both teams tomorrow have quality players in one-on-one situations. We need to try to stay compact in the middle of the field, trying to disrupt their plays. Bennacer is doing well, he handled the minutes he got against Frosinone well, he's available to play from the first minute, he's had a good week."
Pioli, will you be doing any calculations ahead of the Europa League fixture?
"With the staff, we have already analysed Rennes, but we're only focusing on tomorrow's match. There's enough time to prepare for Rennes. Right now, it's too important to focus on the league."
Mike Maignan and the many criticisms...
"As a group, we are not interested in criticisms, in the sense that we are so self-critical and strict with ourselves that we focus on giving our best. Champions like Maignan never lose. They either win or learn. And he will come out of this period better than before."
How would you rate the team from one to ten? Pioli replied:
"The team is a ten today, in two weeks I don't know; we have worked well, we are in a good mental and physical state. We had a period that helped us by playing one game a week, managing the loads, physical and mental recovery. Now with 5 games in 15 days, we will take them one at a time."
What do you think about the blue card?
"I like the flow during the game, I don't like interruptions, and I believe this would be another reason for interruptions, explanations, and also time being wasted. I'm not in favour."
Pioli on Charles De Ketelaere playing well as a forward for Atalanta and why was he deployed as a trequartista at Milan:
"Because for his characteristics, and above all for what the team needed, it was the right position to make him play. He's having a great season, he's doing it in a different role with a different team, after a year of experience where he has grown. He's doing very well."
Is there a recovery timeline for Fikayo Tomori and Pierre Kalulu?
"Of course we do. The recoveries are going very well. Malick forced a bit this week and joined the group, partly yesterday and fully today. He will rest tomorrow because his program included this rest here. If everything goes well, he will be called up for the Europa League match (February 15 vs Rennes). Next week will be very important for Kalulu and Tomori, by the end of next week we will have a more precise idea. But things are going very well."
Can Ismael Bennacer play as a trequartista?
"I don't think it can be an idea from the start, tomorrow he will play from the 1st minute but not there. Loftus-Cheek is our player there. He will start deeper, has the chance to provide assists, take on opponents one-on-one, and shoot from distance. Tomorrow we have to be a team with quality on the ball, compact without it."
Pioli, how can you regain the affection of the fans?
"By winning all the matches."
Can Olivier Giroud and Luka Jovic play together?
"Jovic and Giroud together? Jovic is an important player. He can start, yes, he can do it also with Giroud, but we will see. Camarda? I don't like comparisons, every player has their own characteristics. It's too early to compare him to anyone. He's on the right path, with the right attitudes, commitment, and sacrifice. Let's make him grow. We did something extra for him because there was a certain situation, but he's on his path. Surely he has the potential and quality to be Milan's center-forward tomorrow."
Pioli on the role of a coach:
"I do what I love, it has always been my passion. I have been fortunate to have a good career as a player, just as much as a coach. Criticism, compliments are a part that reaches me less than satisfaction, curiosity to work together with players, to improve, to know them. Everything can't be perfect. What matters to me is how we work: what I can say is that I have always been lucky to coach a group of special people. This has always been a solid foundation and it makes me feel good, at least until Sunday: then we all know how much winning or losing a match matters when you are at Milan."
On Inzaghi's sacking from Salernitana:
" I can only wish Pippo the best and encourage him by saying that all coaches have been sacked. I have utilised them, not suffered them, to understand where I did well and where I needed to improve. Often, it's the tough situations at the beginning that help you. Being sacked doesn't necessarily mean you haven't done a good job."
On the defensive phase, Pioli said:
"I always tell my defenders that they've chosen the most challenging role, where reliability and attitude are crucial because you can't afford to make a mistake with the ball. This applies to the whole team; it's the details that make the difference."
On the fourth kits, with black and white versions:
" I prefer to see them worn, then they're all beautiful because they're Milan jerseys."
On Luka Jovic:
"He's completely integrated into the group, like everyone else."
On the attack:
"It's a team that is inclined to attack. We like this way of playing matches partly because of the players' characteristics, partly because of my game ideas. We're working on it, but we have to insist a lot on our positive aspects, trying to iron out the situations where we're not effective."
Pioli added:
"Milan has improved in the league compared to last season, but it's a partial result. Tomorrow is only the 24th matchday of the league, we'll do the math at the end."
On Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Pioli said:
"His position will be very important; he'll need to read the opponents' positioning, and he's learning it well."
About the Napoli team:
"The ball possession of Napoli is of a high level, both in terms of percentage and quality. They shoot a lot on goal, create many chances, often have territorial supremacy. If we want to control the game, we will have to manage the ball well when we have it."
We are also bored of these rumours...
"If they bore you, why do you keep asking these questions?! (laughs). I am very calm. Our future is tomorrow..."
Should we focus more on defense? Pioli answered:
"I played in midfield, then I played as a central defender starting to mark Trevor Francis and from there I always played as a defender. But I always felt like a midfielder. Those who played as defenders feel certain things. I repeat to my defenders that we have chosen a difficult role, the most difficult, the most complicated, where effectiveness, reliability are extremely important. You can't make any mistakes."
