PIOLI: "LIKE A FINAL IN BERGAMO"

Eight points from the last four games and a strong desire to close 2019 in the best possible manner. Now, the Rossoneri are almost ready for a tricky away trip to Bergamo. Coach Pioli held press conference at Milanello having announced his squad for Atalanta v AC Milan, which will take place at 12:30 CET on Sunday 22 December. His thoughts were broadcasted live on the AC Milan Official App in Italian and English, and on Facebook and on Milan TV in Italian.

AHEAD OF ATALANTA V AC MILAN
“Every game is very important for us. We’re only thinking about Atalanta, the holidays don’t exist. We’re in a delicate moment once again, we again have a deficient position in the table. We’ve started getting good performances but we need to pick up more points and victories. Atalanta have great attacking potential, they have the best attack in the league, a unique system of defending in Serie A and in general great quality: Gasperini and the whole club are doing a great job. The Nerazzurri players are all playing at the highest level. We will need to be alert, compact and determined. We want to control the game, we want to go blow for blow. We can do damage. A Christmas present? Three points.”

THE TEAM
“We aren’t satisfied with our first part of the season, we need to continue to decisively believe in what we are doing. The team has improved by a sizeable margin, it has its identity and its style of play. The team is doing well and wants to make up for lost time. We’re not looking at the table but we want to improve quickly, because this isn’t AC Milan. All the players will have to give their all in Bergamo, as if it were the last game they would ever play: this will need to be the mentality. It will take strength and quality to withstand the shock on the pitch. We’re missing a win against a big opponent, but since I’ve been here Roma was the only big team we didn’t match on the pitch. We need to change our performances and attitudes to get different results, we need to show that we have grown.”

INDIVIDUALS
“I’ve already decided the line-up, I will announce it to the team on Sunday morning. I won’t change certain balances in the team, so that we can find solutions during the match itself. Leão came on a did well against Sassuolo. Piątek is doing well, at the start he wasn’t physically at his best but now he is doing well. I’ve seen Suso both calm and fired up, nobody likes being booed but he will have to react in the right way and show that he can withstand certain pressure; I always expect a lot from him. Castillejo is also doing well. Rodríguez is also available for selection, he is a great professional and he always trains well. Bennacer is one of those players who can grow further, he plays a key role because as a regista you have to read certain situations quicker than the opponents; we’re working hard on that. Kessie has unique characteristics.”

THE ATMOSPHERE
“We are in a delicate position but the fans have never failed to give us their support. We are more united, the players feel the trust more now, and they are more able to give more on the pitch.”

THE TRANSFER WINDOW
“The winter session lasts a long time, perhaps too long. No player can be thinking about the transfer window, otherwise he won’t be in the squad. You’ll understand from my choices.”

Remember that tickets are on sale for the home matches against Sampdoria, Udinese and Verona. Buy your ticket now! See you at San Siro!