The Rossoneri coach speaks on the eve of the match at the Olimpico against Lazio: “We will encounter a motivated team, but one that can be put under pressure.”
Stefano Pioli’s Milan is gearing up to face Lazio at the Olimpico with one sole objective in mind: to bounce back to victory after setbacks against Monza and Atalanta. The Rossoneri will take the field on Friday evening in the first fixture of the 27th Serie A matchday, and the pre-match press conference was an opportunity to discuss the title race and the Champions League battle.
Pioli’s Press Conference:
On the performance against Atalanta:
“We want to replicate that level of performance, but with a different outcome.”
On Leao:
“He was in good form against Atalanta, and I’ve told him to maintain that mindset for the upcoming matches.”
On Lazio:
“They’re a team with great qualities, coming off an unsatisfactory performance. We’ll face a motivated team that plays well but can be challenged with intensity and determination.”
On Inter:
“The title race is closed; they’re having an incredible season. They had a tough schedule but overcame the hardest part convincingly. I believe it’s over now.”
On Inter’s level:
“They’re achieving incredible numbers, with a rhythm similar to Conte’s Juventus. They’ve lost only one game in the league, having an outstanding season.”
On a potential title decider derby:
“April 21 is far away; we have Lazio to focus on. There are many objectives to concentrate on. After the break, we’ll have a clearer picture of our season.”
On match preparation:
“We’ve analyzed why we couldn’t score more goals despite having more chances, I am waiting for the right reaction now.”
On a potential Champions League qualification:
“Allegri is adept at handling these matters; he mentioned 70 points, so there’s still plenty of work to do.”
On squad rotation for the Europa League:
“We’ve studied Slavia, but tomorrow, only Lazio matters. There won’t be changes with the aim of resting players. The team is focused and motivated; there’s still a week to go.”
On social media criticism:
“I’m not on social media; the criticism doesn’t affect me much. Criticism exists and will always be there. I’m focused on our upcoming challenges. I’m happy and proud to coach this group; we’re doing a great job.”
On referees:
“I don’t think there’s an issue with us. The referees do their best; there’s no bias against us. It’s just a matter of luck.”
On away performances:
“We need to improve our numbers; that’s clear. We always aim to control games regardless of the venue. We’ll try to do the same tomorrow. It’ll require attention and consistency. We have a strategy; we need to execute it consistently throughout the match.”
On Spalletti’s praise:
“I’ve always agreed with Lucianone; I agree with him even more when he praises me (laughs). Only those who coach understand what this job entails. We spoke a couple of weeks ago because he wanted to observe our training sessions. I have a lot of respect for him; he rightfully coaches the Italian national team, and I wish him the best for the upcoming matches.”
On Calabria-Florenzi:
“Davide is recovering well, and Florenzi is delivering important performances. It’s hard to go wrong choosing one of the two. They’re both team-oriented players.”
On Reijnders:
“He’s performing well; I chose Adli in the last few matches because he provided more defensive coverage in certain movements.”
More on Leao:
“His growth is exponential, both in his relationship with the team and his attitude. Players tend to grow faster than others on average, but everyone has their own journey.”
On Tomori:
“He’ll be among the squad.”
On last year’s 4-0 victory:
“There’s no need to dwell on it; it’s different circumstances and moments.”
