AC Milan head coach, Stefano Pioli, spoke to the media in the press conference today ahead of the Serie A game against Sampdoria tomorrow. Here are his words:
"We will find a solid opponent. They come from two draws against important teams and also from a defeat and we know they will want to make a reaction."
Do you face each team differently?
"It is still too early to compare home and away matches. For me it always depends on our quality. In Bergamo, we played a great match, while with Sassuolo and Salzburg we could have done better."
Will Divock Origi be a starter tomorrow?
"It may be his moment. He played, he put minutes in his legs. He needs to play", said Pioli.
Can Sergino Dest also play on the left flank?
"We followed him last season as well. I found him more attentive on defense than I thought. In Salzburg he was very attentive. He has to do more with the ball, with the quality he can do so much forward. He also likes to play on the left, but we also have other solutions. It is important for newcomers to get to know their teammates better. Dest is a ready player."
How is Charles De Ketelaere settling, and how is Brahim Diaz?
"There is also Adli, we have various solutions. Charles is doing everything I am asking of him, he is fitting in more and more and better and better, I am happy with his performance. Then he must have the time to get to know, but I see a serene player. Brahim has certain characteristics to give us numerical superiority. It is inevitable that you always ask me about who does not play, but I always choose based on the game."
Is the turnover necessary?
"I don't like the term turnover. For all my players are strong, all give their best. I always field the best training. I have great faith in my players. It is not that if I rotate, I do it by bias ... I put players on the field to win games."
Brahim Diaz performances dropped after the game against Udinese... Is it due to competition?
"If you play for Milan you have to accept the competition. If we want to win something we cannot expect to have only 11 starters. If Diaz is suffering from the competition - but I don't think that's the case - that's not good. It is always like this. Each coach starts with a training, but then things change during the year. You have to work and think about convincing the coach to let him play. "
Stefano Pioli on Ante Rbic:
"I don't like certain inferences about his condition. He has back pain, unfortunately the pain has not gone away yet and therefore he cannot train in a group."
Will Yacine Adli have more space?
"It will be up to him to demonstrate. I expect a lot from him too."
AC Milan concede goals first then come back...
"As an approach we have only made a mistake with Udinese... Then, however, the great awareness of the team is confirmed which, despite the disadvantage, continues to believe in it to change the game."
Could there be a change of form with a 3-man midfield?
"Not at this time, I never tried Yacine Adli as Mezzalla."
On Tommaso Pobega:
"I liked how he got into Salzburg. He is growing, we are betting a lot on him."
On Alexis Saelemaekers possibly starting tomorrow, Pioli said:
"In Salzburg he played well, he didn't force plays when he wasn't supposed to. Salzburg's performance was not excellent, but decent. We have to do better tomorrow."
What do you expect from Charles De Ketelaere?
"We can look for him a little more, he can also receive the ball with his back to the goal because physically he can withstand tackles. He has to learn to go deeper. I don't field players to give them minutes. If he plays tomorrow it's because I think he can give us a hand. I have to think about the whole team."
Why are you scoring more goals?
"We have conceded a few goals too many. The whole team must improve, not just the defense. On Tuesday we had to do better on the goal. We need to improve the defensive phase."
Can Tommaso Pobega play as a playmaker?
"Everything is possible. You can look for new ways or new solutions... We conceded a few more goals, but sometimes it's the quality of the opponents that can make the difference. As for Leao: it is not that every time he has been decisive there has been an error by the defense, but because of his quality. This year we have one more attacking midfielder."
Pioli on the difference between this Milan and the other Milan teams of the previous couple of years:
"We know each other well and therefore can devote more to those details that can make a difference."
Milan are strugling with set-pieces...
"We have to do better. The team knows this too. We are working on it, I hope to see improvements soon. This is one of those details that we are working on the most. We need to be more concrete on these situations."
On the difference between Charles De Ketelaere and Brahim Diaz as playmakers:
"The position is the same and they know what they have to do. They have different characteristics, but the position they have to fill is the same."
Pioli on if his players should manage their energies in some matches?
"We cannot do that. We have to play all games intensely. We have to give everything, we can't afford to finish the games with some energy left."
How are the new players being introduced?
"They are working and growing. They know their comrades better. They are very helpful guys. I don't know if anyone will be ready for tomorrow, but the important thing is that they are strong players. Some of them will then go to the national team, I would have been happier to have them here with us."
