Former AC Milan coach, Arrigo Sacchi, who won several prestigious trophies with the red and black faithful, has shared his analysis and views to La Gazzetta dello Sport as usual. He spoke a lot about Stefano Pioli:
"I knew him as a serious person and I hoped he would do well (when he arrived in 2019). He seemed to me, at the time, a coach in the process of training. It was difficult to classify him. But he had modesty, he studied, he wanted to improve himself. And these qualities have been seen in the last three years. He had been a decent player and as a coach he had done pretty well. Not great, but pretty good. He gave me the idea of a reliable man."
On AC Milan thinking of Rangnick to replace Pioli in the past:
"Yes, and he never said a word out of place. He has never vented. He never attacked the club management. I think the proximity to Maldini has helped him a lot. In any case, in that very complicated period, Stefano Pioli was a real gentleman. And in the end he has earned his confirmation on the pitch thanks to his impeccable behaviour."
On the growth of Pioli:
"He is growing a lot. In life, there is only one certainty: that you can always do more and better. He believes in this rule. He was a 'tactician', now he's a strategist. A big leap to his will and his humility. But since I am one who is not satisfied, I never wish he would not fall into too many tactics at times."
Sacchi on Pioli winning the 19th Scudetto:
"He won and kept the balance sheet in place. And he did it with little-known players, giving organisation to the whole group. Milan is a young team, Pioli has been able to exploit the enthusiasm of his boys and give a modern and proactive game. And then many elements have improved."
On the growth of the players, Sacchi said:
"Leao is not who he was two years ago. And also Kalulu and Tomori. Thanks to Stefano who feels at home at Milan and feels the trust of the whole environment. He is an intelligent man, wise and not at all presumptuous, he is not a little."
