Mister Stephen Pegs he spoke to DAZN at the end of Milan-Salernitana, his last match as Rossoneri coach. His statements, visibly emotional.
“So many emotions these days, so many things that enter your head. Much gratitude and gratitude for everyone: club, owners, managers and above all my players, especially this year. They were a special group: a normal group maybe turns the other way at certain moments, but instead they reached out and we helped each other to get out of it. It’s no small thing. Lots of stuff, lots of things.”
How grateful are you to these fans? “I experienced emotions thanks to our fans that rarely happen in a coach’s career. They filled my heart with joy, gratification, so much. We did what we did because we were all united. I can only be proud of the journey we have made, of being in the history of such a prestigious club. Many things will remain inside me and will remain forever.”
Twelve-thirteen years ago a former teammate of mine said: “If Pioli finds the right team he will win the scudetto”. It didn’t seem possible to me, then you changed the story… What’s your next step? “This experience, thanks to the many vicissitudes we have been through, makes me reach this moment at a level where I want to build something special again, if there is a possibility. I demand a lot from myself, I have left my comfort zones. I know what to expect from the club and the players, I know what I have to do to rise to the next level. This is the beauty of our work. Players and people with the hope of finding the people I found here. I think we were the youngest team in history to win a championship and then we grew, the boys became mature men and players. I feel like I can say that I have the ambition to try again to do something special like we did here. Gap year? My agent called me in the last few weeks, I said “nothing until the last match, until the end of the relationship with the club”. I think things can happen in the next 10 days. I have to find something stimulating. I thought I would get to the end of the season with the thought of taking a break, also because when you have been coaching for many years, even just going around to see important teams and coaches can help you to be evolved, to continue to learn things. I don’t feel tired but I have to find something stimulating, with people who convince me that together we can do a great job.”
Did you agree with society that this cycle was over? “It’s like this. Cycles begin and end, it’s not that simple to make them last a long time and we have succeeded. I think it’s the best thing for everyone.”
Pioli is on fire: “Today the boys even surprised me on the bus. Many times I have left San Siro with emotions that I dreamed of when I started coaching 25 years ago, it wasn’t so obvious…”.
Your kids are grateful for your work. It’s not easy to find another project like this: “It is true. But even when we started here there wasn’t that projection, we know what we found. Then it’s everything we built with all the managers who chose me, with those who supported me, with the whole club who made important investments, with the players who grew up. For me, something special means improving the players, getting better results for the club that employs me, improving the financial assets of the players, increasing the budgets. It’s not just winning that makes you do something special. I’m also studying English, I’d love to, it might be the right time. In the next few days I will look at all the positive things we have done with more clarity and try to improve even what didn’t work. Then we will see the next 10-15 days could be decisive. I face them with serenity and the desire to find something special.”
You are not a master of self-celebration… You obtained a Scudetto, valorised players, brought Milan back to the dimension that reflects the Milan that everyone knows. Among the many criticisms you have received, is there one that you haven’t heard of, that has hurt you? “No. Honestly no. I always try to find solutions to difficulties. I try not to lose faith in my ideas and my work. It’s all exaggerated in our environment, compliments and criticisms. I’m not going after either of them. I focus on my players and my work. When criticism is so strong it means that you are very high, and when you are very high many would like to make you look down. I found myself very resilient, very tenacious. I believe this is part of the growth of a coach who has some experience. There wasn’t a particular one… I don’t like coaches who talk a lot… Not those who are working, but those who aren’t working or who have worked in the past. That yes. Because in any case only those who coach know how many dynamics and situations there are. It has happened to everyone, even those who sanctify now, they too have not found the balance. Those who know that there are difficulties in the judgments could be more balanced, but there is nothing personal or anything particular.”
How long does this team need to win again? “Don’t ask me this. From today it is up to others to build a stronger or more ambitious Milan. The club must be ambitious, we have raised the bar and the fans are ambitious. I hope that the compact and energetic environment that we experienced will return. Then whoever arrives in my place will surely find a group of structured people, professionals. He will have a nice base to start from.”
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