AC Milan head coach, Stefano Pioli, spoke to the media in a press conference at Milanello today in view of tomorrow's Serie A match against Lecce.
On The desire to maintain the positive momentum:
"The desire is there. We are entering the crucial period of the season in good mental and playing conditions. We've won four consecutive games in the league before, never the fifth. Lecce has not conceded a goal since the change of coach and has made life difficult for Roma, so this will require a good performance."
Regarding his journey over these 5 years, Pioli said:
"I've changed, both positive and negative experiences have taught me something. One of the abilities of a coach must be to always take something useful home to grow and improve. I always try to take something away, and I've done that during these important years at Milan."
How will Milan change tomorrow considering the upcoming European commitment?
"Our focus is solely on tomorrow's match. If there are changes, they will be due to situations I've observed during the week, perhaps a player who has had some issues during training, or Loftus's suspension, but not because we're thinking about Roma. We'll have time to recover energy for Thursday; right now, it's crucial to maintain continuity in our game and results. I'll field the best lineup for tomorrow as I see fit."
How is Malick Thiaw? Will he be fit for Thursday?
"His unavailability tomorrow is also dependent on next Thursday's match. He's dealing with plantar fasciitis inflammation which is causing him some trouble. He hasn't been able to complete all the training sessions with us, so as a precautionary measure, he won't be called up tomorrow, but we hope he'll be available for Thursday, especially considering the absences of Kalulu and Tomori."
Alessandro Florenzi said that Rafael Leao, in terms of characteristics, can be a mix between Kylian Mbappé and Leao. Do you agree?
"Florenzi always sets the bar high. I talk a lot with Rafa, even yesterday. We're entering the most crucial moment of our season with Leao in excellent condition, both mentally and physically. I'm very happy with him; he knows he must continue and can still grow in certain situations."
In terms of athleticism, can we say Milan is entering the decisive phase of the season as you would have liked?
"Yes, we've been able to work with many individual players consistently. Not having breaks allows you to maintain good condition. I'm increasingly convinced that physical condition is heavily influenced by mental aspects. We're doing well, but what we've achieved until now counts very little in our profession; we just need to focus on delivering the best performance tomorrow. The end of the season will determine many situations."
On Francesco Camarda's situation:
"I can't say; I don't answer this type of question. You're rightfully doing your job and have been talking about the future for a long time. We focus on the present because it's through present performances and results that we build Milan's future."
Can Ismael Bennacer play in place of Ruben Loftus-Cheek?
"Yes, he can play in Loftus's place. He's had a bit of flu and missed some training sessions this week. He can play there, and another one of his teammates could also play."
Regarding Luka Jovic:
"He's a quality player who has shown readiness. I believe he can do even more."
Pioli, is there such a big difference between Serie A and the Premier League? "
"The Premier League is a very intense and technical league, undoubtedly of a very high level. Honestly, I don't think Serie A is far off from the Premier League in terms of quality, despite the differences in investments that clubs can afford."
How can you replace Ruben Loftus-Cheek, could we see Rafael Leao, Christian Pulisic, and Samuel Chukwueze starting together?
"In the past, I've thought about my players' condition, their characteristics, and how to field a balanced team that can trouble opponents. It's a solution we're considering."
Tijjani Reijnders' position against Fiorentina, very wide on the left. Is it possible with Theo Hernandez too?
"Tijj played often as a left interior. It depends on how we position Leao defensively, whether on the full-back or the center-back. I believe players with such technical quality and movement, like Leao, Theo, and Reijnders, can create dangerous situations. In our concepts, we try to exploit the characteristics of individuals we put together and seek the right balance. The three of them can find that balance."
The team seems to want to have fun:
"The team has found enthusiasm from performances, results, and the environment. We've been very capable of playing with enthusiasm when we've had positive moments, which is ideal for the characteristics we possess. To continue like this, you need to combine quality, performance, and results."
On Samuel Chukwueze's growth:
"I'm very satisfied. Just today, my collaborators had a video meeting with Chukwu, and the data we have from his last three matches are even better than what he had with Villarreal. He's doing well mentally and physically, and he needs to continue like this. He has significant characteristics to exploit for our attacking department."
How difficult was it for you to mold new players into new roles? Pioli answered:
"We're working hard. It's normal, but we've done it very positively thanks to the availability and humility they've shown in adapting to a new reality. And the team's growth can continue for a long time."
Shots from outside, an option?
"They should be. We have the qualities to shoot a bit more and definitely better."
Is Lecce a threat?
"The match will be tough. Lecce is in good form, they've found balance, and they have fast players upfront. However, we have the qualities to try to trouble them and control the game."
