AC Milan's head coach, Stefano Pioli, spoke to the media in today's press conference ahead of facing Sassuolo in the league. Here are his words:
"We have an opportunity tomorrow. I believe that to overcome this moment, you need to have great capacity for compactness and to turn the page. Thinking too much about what we should have done and could have done doesn't help us. We know we can do much better and we are happy to be back playing in front of our fans who were a source of inspiration in Rome: they showed that they are united and support us. It's our turn now."
On the desire for Milan to redeem themselves:
"Absolutely yes. Nobody should think that the players don't want to overcome this moment or that they don't give 100% to do better. There has always been great attention and will. We overcome this moment by working, as we always have. We have always believed in our work."
On the tactical changes:
"All players must feel ready to overcome this moment. Everyone must be ready to help the team at any moment. Today we still have an important training session and I will decide."
Pioli added:
"For those who play team sports it is normal for energy, positivity and spirit to increase with performance and positive results and that it can decrease with negative performance. You recover by working and winning games. We can get out of it through the positive results."
What message do you send to the fans?
"The fans don't need my message but they need to see our qualities and our way of playing. We will guarantee our best efforts. Nice words but only tomorrow's result counts."
On the attacking department scoring few goals...
"The last three games have been negative overall. We can do many things better both in attack and in defence. Right now it is the collective that must help individuals and not vice versa.."
What do you expect from the mercato session? Pioli said:
"We have the necessary resources and qualities to get out of this moment. The company has long been on the market. We are recovering the injured and we are fine."
How has the group changed?
"Nothing has changed within the group. There is great cohesion and availability. Clearly there is a few less smiles and silence: therefore more attention to work. The group works because it is aware and feels a strong sense of duty towards the club and the fans."
What do you expect from Sassuolo?
"Sassuolo can be aggressive... A technical team, we will have to play precisely from a technical point of view and be careful when restarting."
Have you worked on the approach?
"Yes we worked on it. In the defensive phase, we have to be more lucid unit and individually."
Is simplicity the key?
"It is clear that the things I have said to the players these days go in the direction of simplicity: simple things must be done well."
How is Theo Hernandez?
"Yesterday, he was in the group and at the end of training he was fine. If today continues like this, he will be available for tomorrow."
How are Davide Calabria and Fikayo Tomori?
"Calabria took a bad hit but he trained with the team and is fine. Fikayo won't be there."
On Charles De Ketelaere:
"He's certainly better physically, he's stronger and makes more shots. He's an attacking midfielder and if he plays he'll be employed there. We've played with him many times together with Giroud."
On Devis Vasquez, Pioli said:
"Our opponents are scoring with a very high percentage but we are conceding too important chances and it is becoming difficult even for the goalkeeper. The collective must defend better. I don't see Vasquez ready to play yet."
Is Bakayoko out of the project?
"Baka is available, he trains well and then I make the best choices for the team."
