GANZ: "HEAD, FEET AND HEART. WE HAVE TO GIVE OUR ALL"

We are one day from the Women's Coppa Italia final. Tomorrow, AC Milan face Roma, with what could be the Rossonere's first ever Coppa Italia trophy on the line. Today, at Milanello, Coach Maurizio Ganz faced the press ahead of the match. His words were broadcast on the AC Milan Official App. 

HERE AT AC MILAN
"It’ll be an important event for everybody. The AC Milan family is vital. The Club has been with us all season long. I’m happy that Stefano (Pioli) will be watching from the stands, showing that we’re all a big family. We’ve prepared for this game like we did for the league games. There are no rematches for knockout ties, but the knowledge that we have prepared down to the finest details gives us the confidence to approach tomorrow night’s game as best we can. We’ll need to give our all, as my warriors have done all season, in a campaign into which we have given all that could give."

WHAT’S AT STAKE
"At the start of the year, we hoped to have a good season in this league; we deservedly reached the Champions League. People were talking about Roma and Fiorentina qualifying, but we need to give the girls credit for what they have done. Tomorrow’s final is an incredible opportunity, the winner will take home the first title in their history. It’s a single knockout game, so tiredness will count for very little. The important thing will be to go out there and give it everything. Over the past month, we’ve had an almost complete squad and this has helped us to prepare for this game. "

EMOTIONS
"There are a lot of emotions. It’s a first final both for us and for Roma – we had a great run, beating Sassuolo and Inter, in the latter case coming from behind after the first leg. Spectators are back tomorrow, both with the AC Milan fans in the stands as well as those watching at home on TV. It’ll be great to see the fans again, who have suffered due to the pandemic. Getting to see them again is extra emotion."

CHOICES AND TACTICS
"I picked Grimshaw for Sassuolo because we had to play a different game. We’ll need to score tomorrow, and I think Giacinti and Dowie will play up top. We’ll need to start well so that Roma realise what we’re about. We have some great players that know how to dictate games when we’re on top and when we’re struggling. We’ll need to concentrate and work on the details."

EVE OF THE MATCH
"I won’t sleep tonight, just like I didn’t the nights before our league fixtures. On the evening before, you think about what is required and whether you’ve worked on all the details. I’m really fired up, just like the players are. I’ve been involved in a lot of important games, but a Coppa Italia final as a coach is something different. This is how matches make me feel, and the important thing will be to be able to sleep well tomorrow evening. I’d like to use this opportunity to thank Betty Bavagnoli and Rita Guarino, who wrote to me the day after our Champions League qualification to congratulate us. This is something that can’t be taken for granted in football nowadays."

OPPONENTS
"Roma have improved a lot, they’ve got some important players. This year, we’ve been involved in two hard-fought matches against them. They’ve made great strides forward, and bringing Linari in was an important step. They’ve also got an experienced captain in Bartoli. Furthermore, there’s Lazaro, who’s done really well, and Giuliano, who’s a fantastic player. Roma play very good football and are not shy in getting forward. We’ll need to try to produce the perfect performance, we also have some big weapons in attack."

THE ROSSONERE’S PATH
"The turning point for us came when we lost two consecutive matches against Juventus and Inter. At that point, we bounced back and continued going down our path. Overcoming that difficult moment was important, it’s from there where we made a new start. Our warriors have never been lacking in effort from day one. They’ve always given everything, implemented all the things we’ve suggested and are aware that they need to make sacrifices and give their all for these colours. They continually amaze me and have desire, they feel like it’s their moment. I’m happy that we’ve reached this point because they deserve all the success they’ve had this year."

WHAT IT’D MEAN TO WIN
"It’d be very important, a historic feat. A few of our players have already won trophies, while others have been involved in important finals. I believe that this final has come at the right time for us: I’m telling my warriors that it’s up to us to take this opportunity. It depends on us, but we know that we’ll be up against a fierce Roma side looking to do the same. It’ll be fun tomorrow, and I think it’ll also be an important match for the women’s game."

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