Pioli: "I've always asked for intelligent players, and this year I have many. I believe we can perform well"

Pioli: “I’ve always asked for intelligent players, and this year I have many. I believe we can perform well”

AC Milan won the first edition of the Silvio Berlusconi Trophy by defeating Monza in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw in regular time.

"Our goal at the moment is to win the first league match," commented Stefano Pioli after the game. "The preparation is going well, and I understand the ambition of the players."

The Rossoneri showed promising signs on the field...

"We held our ground well against a team that plays well, attacking Monza effectively. However, we need to convert more opportunities; we created a lot but scored little. With the upcoming friendlies, we want to improve every aspect in preparation for the league."

AC Milan's ambition, after undergoing many changes, is to be competitive...

"For the past three years, we've been competitive at the highest levels, although only one team ultimately wins. There are 6-7 teams that can finish in the top four, but we need to be protagonists in Italy and in Europe. The new arrivals are young but already experienced and of high caliber. Of course, there's a bit of time needed for them to adapt to the new reality. The foundation is solid for playing our football, and then we'll see what the season brings. The first three matchdays are particularly challenging for us," Pioli continued.

Reijnders and Loftus-Cheek started from the first minute alongside Krunic... Pioli replied:

"With the addition of Musah, our midfield is complete; we have diverse characteristics. I'm pleased with the players I have and hope to continue with them. Reijnders is intelligent, Loftus-Cheek brings physicality, and Musah is aggressive. Then there's Pobega, Krunic, and Bennacer... we can play in different ways, even upfront. Having versatile players gives us various solutions. I'm happy with how the new players are integrating and with their spirit."

Against Monza, Pioli's team started with a 4-3-3 formation:

"Currently, we're playing this way for various reasons. When I have the full squad in condition, we can also play with a 4-2-3-1 formation without issues. We'll be an attacking team, but without losing balance. I've always asked for intelligent players, and this year I have many. I believe we can perform well."

This was relayed from SportMediaset.