AC Milan's boss, Stefano Pioli, has granted an interview to the microphones of Prime Video. Here are his words:
"The experience we had in the Champions League last season, against great opponents, was such an exciting and stimulating debut but just as difficult against a great team. It made us grow. I see my players certainly more aware and certainly more complete from a mental point of view."
On Chelsea's gaffer Graham Potter:
"He is a modern coach who tries to implement an aggressive, dynamic, proactive football. The unexpected change of coach has created some difficulties for us too because we just have two games to study. But on the one hand: better, we have less work to do. Only two games. The Chelsea players all have great qualities and a great technical level so a complicated game is certainly waiting for us."
Pioli on the difference between Champions League and Serie A:
"Only two things are different: the fields where we play that allow you to play high-level football, both technically and in terms of rhythm. Then, the refereeing is different. There is less whistling, less protest and therefore the intensity and pace of the match are high."
On AC Milan midfielder Sandro Tonali:
"He is a boy who is reaching very high levels. He is a boy who is always available, serene, smiling."
On Olivier Giroud:
"He is not only a great player and a great champion but he is a person of incredible depth. When there was the first video call, before he arrived here, both Maldini and Massara and I immediately had the feeling of having a high-level profile in front of us, which would have raised the level of the whole team."
On Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Pioli said:
"For me, he is number one. A champion of mentality, technique, competitiveness and then I discovered a very intelligent and very nice person. He had to fall into a reality where the team had never won, where young people had to be improved and stimulated, pampered at times. And he did it with incredible sensitivity and intelligence. I hope to be able to find him in the field in January."
On Rafael Leao:
"His attitudes, his flair and the smile on his face does not correspond to the Rafael who is inside. A very smart and very sensitive guy. I like him so much because he listens. I advise him every day: never to be satisfied because those who have the potential he has, must make the most of it and then really get to the top of the world."
