Welcome to Milanello, the heart of the Rossoneri. Coming to the press room will be our navigator, Coach Stefano Pioli, who will take a closer look at tomorrow's clash with Juventus, which will undoubtedly generate interest at a crucial juncture in the Serie A schedule. Faced with the haze of past derbys, the team urgently needed to shake off the shadow of defeat and set off for Turin with two major convictions.
[11 a.m.] Coach Stefano Pioli's media talk officially kicked off.
As the end of the season draws to a close, he has high hopes for the upcoming Juventus campaign: "Needless to say, this campaign is huge, especially after successive setbacks in the Europa League and derby. The priority now is to regain victory and survive the decisive 10 days. ”
Pioli admits: "We can't rest on our laurels, we have to rebuild the team with pride and tenacity and win the rest of the tournament. We stick to our posts, endure hardships, and should have a broad mind, hold our heads high, and strive to show our best selves on the green field. ”
"We will fight bloodily, as if we were facing a battle of life and death. That's the attitude we should have. Every inch of turf, every scramble, every challenge against a strong opponent requires full attention as we defend the second place. ”
Do you think the team has given it their all this season?" "Yes, we've done everything we can, even though we haven't always been able to put our best foot forward on the pitch. In the past four years, Inter Milan have undoubtedly dominated the league, but they have only won twice. We are not always the strongest, but we are always competing at a high level, sometimes getting what we want and sometimes missing out. Mentally, we have no reservations, and we still need to improve on our competitive performance. ”
Is it difficult to understand the difficulties of the past five days?"No, why be confused? With five games remaining, we have a lot of points and we need to prove that we are Milan and that we have the ability to turn the tables against the wind and get out of this 10-day slump. ”
In five years at the helm of Milan, was it the most difficult 10 days?"In these five years, there is no middle ground, only highs and lows. I can't say for sure that this is the darkest hour, but it is the closest, and therefore the most painful. If I had to go back in time, I would have tried to turn the derby around, but reality can't be changed. I have to be open-minded to all of this, it's part of the game and part of my role. We have to show that we are still Milan until the end of the season. ”
Leao will wear the captain's armband tomorrow, what can you expect from that?" He was as saddened by the derby defeat as he was to see his opponents celebrate. We need to erase that scar with a strong response to the next game. ”
This season has been on a rollercoaster ride, is there a lack of consistency?" There are flashes and bleak moments. Aside from the last game, what shaped our mentality? The Europa League exit and the swift opening up of the gap by Inter Milan have dealt a heavy blow. Inter are superior and solid, and we can't match them, but we're not alone. We need to grow together and overcome difficulties. ”
What is Ibrahim's role and its impact?" Zlatan was here yesterday and the day before yesterday, always with us, instilling confidence and support in us to get through this difficult time. We share weal and woe, face joys, sorrows and sorrows hand in hand, and overcome difficulties together. ”
Are the Milanese generals ready for the post-storm doubts?" It's a test of our resilience. If you want to be at the top, you have to prove that you can withstand the toughest challenges, which is another litmus test for the growth of the team. ”
What do you think about the lack of a press conference after the derby? "I had no intention of being absent, it was the club's decision [confirmed by the press officer next to me]. I have always been responsible, and so will I will be in the future. ”
"The key is to give it your all, stay focused and determined, because this is about the standings and the morale. We should be 100 percent ready at all times and in all places. ”
What is your tactical focus in the derby?' "First of all, I want to build a team with a solid defence, and the selection depends on the characteristics of the players who can ensure this tactical philosophy, while also looking for attacking opportunities in the possession phase. The strategy paid off to some extent, but set-pieces allowed the opposition to take the initiative and they fought back quickly with top players and efficient organisation. ”
What is the state of Chukwueze and Okafor?"Chukwueze and Okafor are in good form and ready to go. As for the specific candidates, it is up to me to decide. ”
Will Ibrahimovic and Te'o's roles be adjusted in the future, and is Theo ready to become a superleader?" I am convinced of Ibrahimovic's charisma, skill and personality, and I need no need to say more. These are not for me to decide, but for a higher level. Ibrahimovic's love for Milan is unquestionable, and he will make the best choices for Milan's well-being. As for Te'o, he is a very strong player and has every chance of becoming a stalwart for Milan in the future. ”
Adli's performance in the derby clearly surpassed Bennacer, who was not yet back to 100 per cent: "Ismael is not in the best physical condition at the moment, he didn't show a performance that I was completely satisfied with in the two matches against Roma. At the moment, Adley is showing extra caution in defence and I see him as one of the most reliable players of the moment. ”
Is a red card penalty really necessary in a derby?"The derby is unique in its own way, and violent collisions and clashes are inevitable. Admittedly, it would be nice if all of us were in place tomorrow, but I don't want to be too harsh on any particular event. ”
During the celebration, Inzaghi congratulated Milan and predicted that they would be a formidable opponent in the future. Does he have a point, will he be able to close the 17-point gap next season?" Inzaghi's praise stems from respect for the winner, who is admittedly more relaxed in praising his opponent. However, to be honest, I can't remember how many points Inter took from Napoli last season, and it doesn't seem to be that far apart. The season is reincarnated, and everything is back to zero. Milan will have to show great strength if they are to return to such heights. ”
The problem of conceding too many goals still plagues the team: "Especially in recent games, we have found that the opponent always catches our mistakes quickly and strikes with precision. And when the opponent made a mistake, we failed to counter with the same sharpness. ”
Is the result of the last Champions League semi-final too underestimated? "I think it would be a mistake to underestimate the achievements of our last Champions League campaign, and the exact reasons for this are unknown. If there is a misunderstanding in our communication, I am willing to take responsibility. But the facts are irrefutable: Inter Milan won the Serie A title and they were the ones who kept us out of the Champions League final. Back in the years, when Milan were fifth, sixth, fourth, third and even second, and Juventus were at the top of the table, it was widely believed that Milan had done their best. Now, with the rise of our opponents, our shortcomings and deficiencies are becoming more and more prominent. If we want to move up the ladder, we have to learn to take responsibility, to go for a more consistent and solid defence, to improve the overall performance and to replicate what Inter did and what we failed to do. If the difference in points reaches 17 points......"
What is Juventus' fear?" They are a solid squad that is ready to produce a strong and unpredictable striker. They are a threat from set-pieces and are an all-round competitive team that can be a top team. ”
Will the players who have played less in the remaining fixtures be given more opportunities to prepare for next season?" "At this stage, I'm not looking at the players for next season unless we have secured second place in the last few days. I'm only going to send players who can make sure we win games. ”
How do you motivate your team?" the answer is simple: it's up to us to show how to finish the season in the best possible shape. It would be a serious miscalculation to think that we could handle the next game without the necessary focus and passion. I know my players and they don't accept that. In every game that follows, and especially tomorrow's crucial battle that is full of uncertainties and challenges, we have to give it our all and believe that we can go into the game in the best shape and win. ”