The Rossoneri coach presents the challenge against Verona: “So far, we have played 5 matches. We need to improve on certain aspects; we have struggled in some situations.”
The goal is simply: immediately bounce back after the heavy defeat in the last round against Inter and restart in the league. Coming off a draw in the Champions League against Newcastle, AC Milan is ready to face Verona on the 5th matchday of Serie A.
Speaking at a press conference, Milan’s coach Stefano Pioli presented the match scheduled at San Siro on Saturday, September 23rd at 3:00 PM.
“Winning is always important, especially for us coming from a heavy league defeat. There are no easy matches; it’s just about wanting to interpret the games well and having the quality to play with the same intensity from start to finish.”
Okafor is eager, can he get a chance tomorrow?
“Clearly, I’m thinking of choices that will make us win. It’s not just him, everyone is eager to play, which is good. There will be the starting eleven, and then there’s the possibility of making changes during the match, perhaps by introducing players with different characteristics, but seeing this kind of attitude from the players is important. We will play so many games that there will be room for everyone.”
How do you see the team mentally and physically?
“The team is in good shape, I am very confident in what they do, and we are very eager to play the right game tomorrow.”
Now there are three consecutive league matches; is this an opportunity to start anew?
“Absolutely yes. But even though there are three matches, for us, at the moment, there is only Verona, an intense and aggressive team that is doing very well at this start of the season. We must be ready and approach the game well because it’s important to get back to winning ways.”
How is Giroud doing?
“He is doing very well. He is an important player for the team, but we need to manage him well in these situations, considering his age. At the moment, he has no physical problems, and then we will see what choices I will make tomorrow.”
How do you evaluate the integration of the new players?
“I have a very positive judgment; they are all players with quality, availability, and they have integrated well. The adaptation period is over as the season has started, but they all come from different experiences, so it will take some time to get them to perform at their best. However, they are already ready to contribute to the team.”
What did you take away from the match against Newcastle? And how is Jovic performing?
“We have played five official matches, four in the league and one in the Champions League. We need to work on some things and grow in others. Jovic had a tough summer because he trained many times alone and had little playing time. He lacks a bit of rhythm, but he is very motivated and in good shape, even though he cannot have a lot of playing time for now. I believe he can bring us satisfaction.”
Could Leao’s mistakes against Newcastle be due to the desire to erase the derby setback?
“Leao is on an important path and is doing everything to transform himself from a great player, which he already is, into a word class. He will need to manage certain game situations better thanks to his talent. As he grows, his responsibilities will increase. But I don’t want to place too much responsibility on a single player, both in positive and negative results. We think as a team; a single mistake is a mistake for all of us.”
Has Newcastle closed the chapter on the derby? And what motivation can move Leao at this moment?
“Newcastle hasn’t closed or opened anything. It was the first match of a Champions League group, and we absolutely wanted to win, but we couldn’t. Leao is doing everything to become the champion that we all expect and must continue in this way. We expect a lot from him, but he must know how to manage these things. Mentally, he’s making important progress.”
What kind of game are you expecting from Verona?
“So far, Verona has been aggressive without the ball, but there have been times when we expected aggressive opponents, and then they made different choices. So, depending on our opponents, we will have to find solutions.”
Without Maignan, is something missing?
“Sportiello knows our playing principles very well and is ready to help us, even in the early stages of the game.”
