The AC Milan head coach, Stefano Pioli, has these words to say to the media in a press conference:
Tomorrow the pride of the Rossoneri people must be represented...
"We can use all the terms we believe in: pride, responsibility, belonging. For the standings, for Thursday's elimination, for Inter's Scudetto, it's an opportunity for redemption, for pride."
How have these last few days been after Roma?
"They've been days of work. It's already passed, we've worked to prepare as best we can for the derby. We can't be happy, but we've worked for the next game."
What kind of derby will it be tomorrow?
"It would be very important for the meaning of the match and for the standings. There has been too much talk about me and for too long: I believe this hasn't been good for anyone, but not for me."
What do you ask of your Milan?
"To win tomorrow. We were coming from seven straight victories, then this elimination came. Milan still has a lot to give."
Too much criticism? Pioli answered:
"My Milan can still give a lot. I don't care about the criticism. You journalists and the fans can criticize and judge, some did it with more respect or less respect."
What do you think of the position taken by the Curva?
"The most important thing is that tomorrow there will be 70,000 fans pushing Milan, the rest matters little. It's not about Pioli, but what Milan will do tomorrow. We'll need the best Milan possible. Some think we've never changed anything in the derbies, but tomorrow we have to do everything so they don't win tomorrow."
You're coming from elimination in the Europa League...
"Difficult: if the team goes through a difficult time for a long time it means that the condition and quality may struggle to come, but it wasn't our case. We couldn't play at our level, in terms of quality and energy. Even if the two games were more balanced than one might think; we had more shots. Their first goal in Rome clearly shows what we lacked. The past is history, even if it's not positive not to have gone through. Tomorrow a high level is needed, more than that."
Arriving from elimination in the Europa League...
"It's difficult: if the team has been struggling for a long time, it means that the condition and quality may struggle to come through, but it wasn't our case. We couldn't play at our level, in terms of quality and energy. Even though the two matches were more balanced than one might think; we had more shots. Their first goal in Rome clearly shows what we lacked. The past is history, even if it's not positive that we didn't progress. Tomorrow, a high level is needed, even more."
Do you have any regrets? What grade do you give to the season?
"I don't give grades. No assessment, I'll do it at the end."
You've come from five consecutive defeats in the derby...
"The players know everything, they know the importance, then it will have to be put on the field."
How do you prepare for such a match?
"You can't not prepare well for a match like this. Every player will be preparing to be at their best. Tactical choices? I could change everything or nothing. I'm open to everything."
Is there a lesson you take away?
"At the end of the year, I will make my evaluations, surely I will take something away."
What do you expect tomorrow?
"The team shouldn't play for me, but for itself, for the shirt, for the fans. I expect a performance from a real team. Tomorrow what matters is the result, not Pioli."
What more can you give to this team?
"I have always given my all and I have received a lot. I feel like I still have a lot to give to this team."

Can we prove we're not so inferior to Inter? Pioli replied:
"You can prove it in tomorrow's match, maybe by not falling behind in the first few minutes and realizing we can be on par with our opponents. In the first leg, we arrived with very high expectations, only to encounter difficulties we couldn't contain."
Did the match against Roma remind you of the two Champions League derbies?
"Perhaps when we're too confident, we don't know how to react to difficulties. Maybe we were a bit presumptuous, thinking that Roma wouldn't score against us, that can happen..."
Did you think about the February 2023 derby?
"We know our opponents and our characteristics. I have set a priority for myself, and after the match tomorrow, I will tell you what it is."
Do we need to fight tomorrow?
"Yes, exactly, let it be a healthy nervousness in terms of competitive spirit."
Would you be surprised by a great game?
"I wouldn't be surprised, I have a lot of faith in my players. It will be a game where we suffer a lot, but I believe in my players and I believe we can win."
Pellegatti says he's not a "Piolista," but simply a Milan fan...
"Not many have been this year, Milan fans I mean..."
How will your eventual successor do better than you? Pioli said:
"Let's not jump the gun with certain judgments and comments; they're not relevant to me at this moment. In the end, we'll sum things up, then I'll tell you what I think about the season, why certain things happened, both positive and negative. If you agree, fine, otherwise, I'll make peace with it."
Is Rafael Leao or Ruben Loftus closer to Giroud to not leave him alone?
"I can't answer that, or else I'd have to disclose our tactics. We'll have to defend well and all sacrifice ourselves, and when we have the ball, we'll have to make them run and find spaces."
