Milan – In form it was an energetic attempt to rekindle the engines of Milan who would be 3 points away from guaranteeing participation in the next Italian Super Cup. «Our work is not finished here, we must commit ourselves and secure second place» is Stefano Pioli’s symbolic phrase. In essence, dragged by the subsequent questions, yesterday’s seemed more like an elegant farewell, in perfect line with the character of the man who has some great remorse to confide (“the two normal matches with Roma and the painful elimination from Europe league”) and an indelible memory to jealously guard of the Italian season experienced with the conquest of the scudetto (“I enjoyed it a lot and suffered a lot as it should be” is his perfect summary) which led him to become the character of the summer and with he the famous Pioli choir is on fire depopulated for many months at San Siro and now mocked by the Inter fans. Even towards the supporters of the Curva Sud who announced the strike in view of the match against Gilardino’s Genoa – expected for the first time as a coach in the stadium of his AC Milan past – Pioli is grateful (“they have been the added value, many times they helped us with their support”) as well as the club (“relationship always good, we’ve had Ibra and Moncada here in recent days”).
No concessions however to the immediate future which seems already written, the Napoli bench. «I won’t speak to anyone until I’m under contract with Milan» the solemn promise which also seems to be reiterated with the joke (“I love cappelletti in broth, a specialty of my Parma”) in response to the gastronomic question (do you like pizza? ). There were also some passages dedicated to some of his colleagues who were very supportive of the AC Milan player. The first, most heartfelt, sent to de Rossi who mentioned him in the Roma conference (“I caught the journalists’ desire to massacre Stefano after the match with us”). Here Pioli was affectionate (“I’m following Daniele, I like him a lot, I wish him to maintain clarity in the future too”). The second with compliments sent to Pecchia, the Parma coach promoted to Serie A. Today he will meet again with Alberto Gilardino, trained in Florence, and who already gave him a hard time in the first leg (“we won with luck” in the opinion).
For the occasion he will propose the same line-up against Lecce with a super-offensive quartet (Chukwueze – Pulisic – Leao – Giroud) plus the return from suspension of Tomori and Theo Hernandez and a few too many risks to take.
