PIOLI: "I WANT ANGRY PLAYERS"

AC Milan are preparing for yet another league game this week after the defeat in Rome, with Coach Stefano Pioli speaking in his press conference at Milanello before AC Milan v SPAL. The match is the tenth of the Serie A season and will be played tomorrow, Thursday 31 October, with a 21:00 CET kick-off at San Siro. Here’s everything our new Coach had to say, with his words broadcast live on the AC Milan Official App in both Italian and English, as well as on Facebook and Milan TV in Italian.

THE CURRENT SITUATION
"We have to be realistic and admit that we’re going through a difficult period, but we have the opportunity to improve our position in the table and to prove that we’re a better side than how we played on Sunday. We mustn’t get ahead of ourselves, there are 29 games left to play and 87 points still to be won, we have a lot of time left to climb up the table. I want my players to show their pride and get worked up, we’re not where we want to be in the table and tomorrow I expect my players to fight, giving everything they have in order to win."

THE TABLE
"I’m always concerned, I have to stay focused and try to plan for everything, I have to train my players to give ever-improving performances. The table is what it is, but we just have to focus on getting back to winning ways tomorrow. We need the right mentality, after just 15 days of work together it’s unthinkable to be the best team in the league on a technical or tactical level, but we have to be the best in terms of mentality. Now is the time for determination and anger. Our team didn’t look scared in Rome, I saw a team that made a lot of mistakes but we weren’t by any means worse than our opponents. If anyone is afraid then now is the time to put it behind them. There’s a lot to do and a lot that we’ll need to give, if we believe then everything is possible."

INDIVIDUALS
"Suso is a great player but I don’t think it’s right to attribute our troubles to any individual player. Everyone has to give something more, myself included. We’ll have Bonaventura back in the squad for the game against SPAL, it’s only Caldara and Rodriguez who are still unavailable. I think I’ll make some changes to the side from Sunday. Paquetá’s not lacking in any desire, he works hard and is very focused but he has to have a bigger impact, he has to have more of a presence in the decisive moments. Piątek brings certain characteristics as Milan’s striker while Leão brings others. Kris is a player who is doing well and is very driven right now, I expected more of Rafa on Sunday. They can also play together but I don’t think that tomorrow’s about individuals, it will be the team’s approach as a whole which will be decisive."

PIOLI’S APPROACH
"I don’t believe that I lack emotions, there’s the wrong impression of me from the outside. I’m not interested in hugs at the moment, I just want to win games. I’m not a friend of the players, I’m a coach that is close to them and trying to improve them. We’re the youngest team in the league and I need to be credible and there for everybody."

SPAL
"Usually, they don’t press the opposition high up the pitch. They were excellent against Napoli and gave little away. We’re going to be playing a compact side who have been working together for a long time. They’re aware of the different situations out on the pitch, have quality and won’t gift us anything."

SAN SIRO AND THE FANS
"The fans are not stupid and know when a team are playing with spirit, desire and motivation. They know how to fairly assess our performance. Fans go to the stadium to support a committed team that do everything to win. We need to become very responsible because we’re wearing a prestigious shirt in front of numerous supporters. 50,000 came to watch the match against Lecce, while they also supported us for 90 minutes in Rome. Now, we have to do something extra, we can put on a better show because we’re better than what we’re currently demonstrating."

THE CLUB’S PRESENCE
"I’ve never been at a Club where the people are constantly by your side to the extent they are at AC Milan. They’re always there, they support my work and also the work done by the players. They’re helping the team grow."

RESULTS
"Given that results change circumstances, we need to pick up results and know what is needed to do this. On a mental level, I believe that this team have strong characters that can be leaders out on the pitch. We need to arrive where we want to be through positive performances. Now, we need to have spirit and the desire to pick up results, because if there’s one quality that we need most right now it’s spirit."

The official PUMA match kits for the 2019/20 season are available in the AC Milan Online Store!