Stefano Pioli, the Rossoneri coach, spoke to DAZN after Milan - Salernitana.
Here are his words as he bids farewell to the club, fans, and team:
"To my players, I have often repeated that they have been a special group. A normal group would have turned the other way, but we supported each other and helped each other."
On the fans:
"I have experienced emotions here at Milan thanks to the fans that I think can happen only a few times in a coach's life. They filled my heart with joy and gratification. I can only be proud to have entered the history of this club."
On his ambition:
"This experience, thanks to many ups and downs, brings me to a level at this moment that makes me want to live even more. If there will be the possibility, I would like to do something even more special. I hope to find the people I found here. We were the youngest team in history to win a Scudetto. I feel I have the ambition to have another experience like this. My agent was calling me in these weeks, but I told him not to tell me anything until the last game. I thought of reaching the end of the season with the thought of taking a break, also because when you coach for many years, it happens. I need to find something stimulating."
On the end of the cycle:
"Cycles begin and end, it's not easy to make them last long, and we succeeded, and it's the best thing for everyone. Many times I left San Siro with emotions that I have always dreamed of experiencing. When we started here, we knew what was there, and then we built. Something special for me means improving the players, achieving better results than in the past, improving the heritage, increasing the balances. I studied English, it could be the right time. In the next few days, I will look back, and then we will see what will happen. I face it with serenity."
On the criticism that hurt him the most, Pioli said:
"No, I try not to lose confidence and balance. In our environment, everything is exaggerated, compliments and criticisms. I don't go after all of this. There have been criticisms, but when they are so strong, it's because you are very high up and everyone wants to see you fall. I discovered myself to be resilient and tenacious. I don't like coaches who talk a lot, among those who have worked in the past, not among those who are working. Anyone who coaches knows how it works in this world. Anyone who knows that there are difficulties should be more balanced."
On how much this team is lacking:
"Today, it is up to someone else to build a stronger and more ambitious Milan. I hope that environment we were able to experience will return. Whoever takes my place will find a group of responsible people."
