AC Milan are set to face Lazio in the Capital tomorrow as the team of Stefano Pioli is back on the hunt for the three crucial points.
The gaffer presented the next game to the media in his usual press conference one day before matchday. Here are his statements:
"I feel like saying that our fans have already won the Scudetto, they are the best. They pamper us, motivate us, stimulate us, give us energy. Having them can only push us forward. What counts is that, after the derby, we want to win tomorrow night."
On Zlatan Ibrahimovic:
"Zlatan is still the beacon of this team. His willpower is indomitable, what he is doing to be available and to help is exceptional. He did well in training yesterday."
On Ante Rebic:
"Ante suffers from chronic knee tendonitis that occasionally wakes up. In the pre-game warm-up, he heard something. Fortunately, only two days of therapy were needed, he is ready to give everything like the others. Ante is doing well."
On the Elliott/InvestCorp negotiations:
"We are facing an important moment in the league, with an ownership and management that are always present. The future is not something you ask me about."
On the Rossoneri's attack and on Lazio:
"We are facing a team with an important offensive potential, with Immobile being the main figure. We have to put in a high quality performance, we will have to dribble well to find space. All the injuries we have had up to halfway through season they didn't allow us to rotate. What we did up to a minute ago doesn't count for anything, we're focused on tomorrow night."
Pioli added:
"It should not be forgotten that we are first, or second, in the standings and that we are in the second round together with Juve. we are the team that has scored the most points. We want to stay there until the end."
What do Inter have more than Milan, or is it the other way around?
"I don't know, this is not the situation that interests me. We must try to have something more than our opponents tomorrow. We will find a very motivated team as well as all our opponents, who have played the game of their lives rightly."
On the team's physical condition going into tomorrow's game vs Lazio:
"We are fine, the physical form is excellent. I remember the first leg well, we had played an important match from a technical point of view and we will have to try to repeat it tomorrow evening."
A reaction is needed after a heavy defeat against Inter...
"It is very important. We know that the closer we get to the end of the championship, the more the result will weigh heavily. It doesn't matter if the team is disappointed or otherwise, tomorrow's match is important and we are prepared as well as possible."
On the away games to be played:
"I don't think it makes a difference right now. I think quality, motivation and playing matches with aggression should make the difference."
On the controversies of the referees:
"In the last 5 games, something needs to happen that hasn't happened up to now. Let's focus on what we can change or determine, which is tomorrow's match."
On the derby loss:
"Losing the derby disappointed us and did us no good, there is still another competition that cannot influence the championship standings. I think we were not good in the key episodes of the match: let's collect this and try to treasure it."
On Samu Castillejo:
"He had some physical problems that in the last period did not allow him to train continuously. Now he is better and is available."
On Ismael Bennacer:
"He is growing rapidly and still has margins of growth in the attacking and defensive phases. He will not be available for tomorrow because in the derby he had a sprained ankle and was unable to recover."
Pioli on his period as head coach at Lazio:
"I had a wonderful first year with Lazio. We played good football. As a coach, the only regret I have is the second year of Lazio in which I did not manage well the dynamics that I would now manage differently."
On playing against Maurizio Sarri:
"I expect a quality team, well placed on the pitch. They defend by attacking forward. He is a very prepared coach."
On Brahim Diaz' spot in lineup:
"It always depends on the matches and the opponents. The other night, Inter were waiting for us and they were crushed, there were no spaces between the lines. It depends on the situations."
On the current situation of the team:
"If this is a difficult climb? We have already overcome several challenges in the past. and this must give us even more strength for a match like tomorrow's."
