AC Milan coach Stefano Pioli, present at the "Festival dello Sport" event organised by La Gazzetta dello Sport, has answered questions of journalists. Here are his words:
"Trapattoni? I arrived at Juventus when I was very young and I went to an environment and a dressing room with great people. He gave me a lot of passion. Even though he had already won everything, he stopped every day with the youngsters to improve us. He showed a contagious desire and passion."
On other important coaches:
"I have had a lot of good coaches. There is Trapattoni but also Bagnoli and Claudio Ranieri."
On the relationship with the players:
"You have to be direct and clear, both in the positive and in the negative aspects. You have to set goals right from the start. It takes time to build certain relationships, with someone you find instant empathy. 'suspicious. I quarrel every day with the group. It is normal to have discussions. There are moments of tension, having to do with a large group."
On Ranieri:
"I worked under his guidance in '93 and I was 28 years old. With him I started asking myself questions about game situations. When he was training me he often told me that I would be a coach at the end of my career. He was a person who he passed on certain values and ideas to me."
Pioli discussed AC Milan and the Champions League:
"The 5-0 defeat in Bergamo was very heavy, but I think it taught us a lot of things. We started again with more conviction and more strength. From there our Milan was born. Negative experiences can be found from negative situations. that the last day of last year is not the highest point of this team. We have to believe it. The first two games were negative results, but performances that gave us confidence. The ranking at the moment is negative but four games are a lot."
On the harmony with the club:
"Already from the first meeting there was harmony. Then the relationship must be built and today I feel completely at ease, especially with the project that was undertaken starting from the young people. Now it is a project that is giving results. You have to find talent and you have to be good at it. When you invest in young people, it is normal to take time. The club has made a well-considered choice."
On Tonali:
"He has grown. He has always had qualities and continues to grow. He will be an important player for Milan and will improve a lot."
On the needs of modern football:
"We need new structures. In Europe the stadiums are much more modern and are used to welcoming a young audience. We could start with that to improve. I hope to be the manager of Milan with the new stadium."
On how young people see Pioli...
"I hope they don't see me too old (smiles). The relationship is a coach-player, young people know that they need advice and guidance. Some guys occasionally show me personal situations, and it is a sign of confidence. They need to be treated like young people: give advice after a fight with family or girlfriend."
On Zlatan Ibrahimovic:
"Zlatan is an intelligent and nice person. At the first interview he said to me 'Mister, don't listen to those who say I'm not ready. I'm here to be a player and you are the coach'. And I am trying to be a coach, in the locker room, he knows how to behave. Sanremo? I didn't watch him, I had other things to do (laughs). Whatever he does in the future, he will make a career of it. He is of an impressive level. On the pitch he sees the game before the others, Zlatan never makes a mistake."
On his staff:
"My growth goes hand in hand with the structure of the staff I have. I have very young collaborators, who have advanced light years on a technological level. Data and statistics must be interpreted, but it is the eye that must make a difference", said Pioli, "My goal is to improve and exploit the characteristics of individuals. We need to put them in good conditions. Concept, quality and sacrifice are the characteristics that make the difference."
On how the team sees Ibrahimovic:
"I think Zlatan has shown a lot of intelligence. He knew the moment he was going through the team and in the first weeks he observed his teammates. Today the players see him as a total leader, but they know they can find a selfless person, ready to help."
In which match did you lose your temper?
"With Atletico Madrid, a little for our naivety, a little for external situations. The referee was not the best in the field (smiles)."
On Daniel Maldini:
"He has quality and talent. He is at the beginning of his career. He has a heavy name. Milan have a great history. For example, every time at Milanello I pass the statue of Rocco, I think he watches my every training session. The players are stimulated by the environment."
On Davide Astori:
"He marked my life. Anyone who knows me knows my feelings towards him. He was the captain with a capital C. At the funeral, there was all of Florence and the delegations of all the teams . He was a person with great values."
On his fellow colleagues at Milan:
"Definitely Matteo Osti and Giacomo Murelli. They give me a great hand, I'm satisfied with them."
