The Rossoneri coach presents the big match with Juventus: “It’s been a delicate 10 days. We’re suffering but we have to get back up”
Fresh from elimination in the Europa League and the defeat in the derby which gave Inter their second star, Milan are looking for immediate redemption against Juventus to try to secure second place. “The focus is second place, we have to win again. They were 10 delicate days – explained Stefano Pioli in the conference – We suffer from this situation, but we have the duty to have broad shoulders, to get up and then put our best possible performances on the field.” Then one dig at Inter: “For 4 years they have been the strongest and have only won two championships“. On Leao: “He will be captain with Juve”.
THE PIOLI CONFERENCE
Juve-Milan is always an important focus for us.
“It must be like this, due to the negative results in the Europa League and the derby. The focus is second place, we have to win again. They have been a delicate 10 days.”
How is the mood of the team?
“We cannot stop at these negative results, we must have the desire for redemption. Of course we must have the pride and strength to remain united to win the remaining matches between now and the end of the championship. We are professionals, we are attached to that what we do. We suffer from this situation, but we have the duty to have broad shoulders, to get up and then put our best possible performances on the field.”
What will Milan be from an emotional point of view?
“We will have to fight, we will have to give our all as if it were the last game. This is how we have to think. We have to fight for every ball, we have to be concentrated, we have to overcome an opponent who is doing well but we want to defend second place.”
Do you think the players and the team gave everything?
“We gave everything, but we certainly weren’t always able to put our best qualities into play. Inter have been the strongest team in the championship for 4 years and have only won two championships. We have never been the team strongest in the championship. We tried to fight for the top positions, sometimes we succeeded and sometimes less. We gave everything mentally but we weren’t always able to raise our level of play.”
Is it difficult to make sense of these last 5 days?
“No, no, why difficult? There are five games left, we have a lot of points available, we have to demonstrate who we are and that we are Milan. We want to get out of these 10 difficult days by putting our best qualities on the field.”
Have these been the most difficult 10 days since you have been coaching Milan?
“In these almost 5 years there has been no middle ground. Either very positive moments or very negative moments. I can’t tell you if it is the most negative, but it is the closest and therefore also the most painful. If I could change the result I would give everything I have to change the derbies, but it can’t be done anymore. I for one have to have broad shoulders, understand that it’s part of the game and it’s part of my job. We have to demonstrate who we are until the end.”
Will Leao be captain tomorrow?
“Leao will be the captain, he is experiencing it like all of us. It was painful to lose the derby and see our rivals celebrate. We just have to react with the next matches.”
A roller coaster season. Was there a lack of balance?
“Let’s wait for the end of the championship, then everyone will make their own assessments. There is some positive and certainly some negative.”
What was the thing that brought you to this state of mind, other than the last game?
“The exit from the Europa League and that month where we broke away from Inter. Inter is stronger, more continuous, solid and we haven’t managed to maintain that level there, but we’re not the only ones who haven’t maintained our Inter’s level”.
Ibra’s role. What did he tell you?
“Zlatan was here yesterday and the day before yesterday. He is always close to us. He tries to give us trust and support to overcome a delicate moment. We win together, we rejoiced together and we are sad together. Together we try to overcome difficult moments.”
Why didn’t you come to the conference on Monday?
“I didn’t want to not give the conference, but it was the company’s choice. I have always assumed my responsibilities, otherwise I would have remained silent until the end of the season.”
What was your priority before the derby?
“The priority was to try to be compact in the defensive phase, so the choices were oriented there. The plan worked up to a certain point, then when you concede a goal from a corner you put them in a position to do well what they do well.”
What are Okafor and Chukwueze missing to be starters?
“Okafor and Chukwueze are fine, then it’s up to me to make the choices.”
Ibra and Theo are figures from which to start again? Is Theo ready to be a super leader?
These will be choices that the club will have to make. I have no doubts about Zlatan’s charisma, technical and human qualities. I don’t have to be his sponsor. These are not things that I can decide, they are things that will be decided above me. I don’t know what role Zlatan will have, but Zlatan loves Milan and wants the good of Milan. He will make the best decisions for his tasks and his ideas. As for Theo he is a very strong player and he can be an important player for the future of Milan.”
