Former AC Milan coach Stefano Pioli, speaking to Radio TV Serie A, shared his thoughts on the coaching change at Milan and the arrival of Sérgio Conceição, who replaced the dismissed Paulo Fonseca:
"In my opinion, when someone new comes in, they shouldn't worry about what was done before. You have to be yourself, bring your own way of doing things, and believe in what you're doing. Conceição has a clear understanding of who he wants to be. He will bring his playing style, his training methods, and his own approach. He’s an excellent coach, and I wish him all the best."
Pioli then reflected on his time at Milan:
"I’d like to say it was like a Giro d’Italia, but I think it was more like the Tour de France, which is the most challenging stage race. So many peaks to conquer, many mountain stages, and also steep descents because we took plenty of blows. But in the end, it’s the journey that counts—where we managed to win. I’m not saying this now because I’m no longer there, but because at the end of the day, you can say everything and nothing about a coach’s work. What matters is what you find when you arrive and what you leave behind when you go. I believe the balance has to be positive. The Scudetto still gives me chills, and I don’t think that feeling will ever go away, even if I win again. It was so unexpected for everyone, such a joy to experience, with such a young team, a unique magic, and it will always stay in my heart, my mind, and in everything I do. Of course, you have to move forward—and I am moving forward—but it will always be there."
When asked about his Scudetto tattoo, Pioli said:
"The idea for the tattoo? It just came to me. I have a few, and they’re all for things I’m very attached to. Regrets about leaving Milan? None at all, because I gave a lot and received a lot. I always had a great relationship with the Milan directors—Massara and Maldini would suggest names, I’d assess them, and then they would work to close the deals. Some things worked out great; others, not so much."
Pioli also discussed Rafael Leão:
"Rafa is an amazing young man. The only negative thing about him, so to speak, is his body language, which can be misleading. But Rafa is very intelligent, very sensitive, and very kind-hearted. He just needs to be encouraged, pushed, and supported. What I see is that in football, criticism and praise are always excessive. Personally, I see constant growth in Rafa. I don’t know if he will ever become a top player and win a Ballon d’Or, but I’ve always backed him and always said I believe he has what it takes to be a Ballon d’Or-level player. His growth is ongoing, though there may be ups and downs along the way. That’s part of his journey, but he’ll keep improving because his qualities remain, and he’ll continue to develop."
He spoke on Charles De Ketelaere who is doing well with Atalanta:
"Honestly, throughout my career, I’ve learned more from players than the other way around. But there have been exceptions, like De Ketelaere, who is being talked about now. Of course, it wasn’t all my fault that things didn’t work out with him. Maybe something didn’t click, but now, under Gasperini, things are going well, partly because of the environment. He’s one example, but there are others."
Pioli praised Tijjani Reijnders and Christian Pulisic:
"Reijnders? I already knew about him; I’d watched him in a West Ham-AZ Alkmaar match. He’s incredibly intelligent, skillful, and classy. Last season, he had many chances to score. He has a great shot but struggled to find the net. The first year in Italy is always tough. Pulisic? Another player with an incredible mentality and quality. I already knew about him, but after our first video call, I saw someone humble and eager to embrace a new challenge. Christian is top-notch as a person and as a player. He can play many roles. It was a real pleasure coaching him."
Reflecting on his relationships with players like Theo Hernández and Rafael Leão, he said:
"They’re two young men I grew very fond of. They needed certain types of relationships, but at the same time, they’re sunny and brilliant yet challenging because they aren’t always consistent—sometimes a bit lazy. I had a great relationship with them, though they occasionally frustrated me. They were players who could decide a game, positively or negatively. When I met them, they were very young, especially Rafa. Theo was in his second year of consistent football, having left Real Madrid and gone out on loan in Spain. In such a demanding league with high pressure and expectations, they needed support, encouragement, and motivation. Helping them doesn’t always mean pampering them, sometimes, yes, but other times it means using both the carrot and the stick, privately and in front of the team. It was hard work, but we achieved great things."
Regarding his post-Milan career and joining Al-Nassr:
"When I left Milan, I had a couple of opportunities in Italy and one in France, but I didn’t feel ready immediately after leaving. Then came the offer from Al-Nassr. Their proposal included motivation, growth, development, and also financial strength. Honestly, after Milan, I wanted to try something international, something new and different."
Pioli continued:
"I’ve coached in Italy for 20 years. I’m not saying I’ve done everything, there’s always more to achieve—but I liked the idea and appreciated how they approached me, the conversations we had, their curiosity, and their belief in me, my coaching methods, and my personality. I’ve always made decisions based on the feelings I get during discussions, trying to see if our visions align, knowing that in football, everything can change in an instant. That’s part of the game, and I accept it."
