PIOLI: "A DELICATE BUT MOTIVATING MATCH"

AC Milan have arrived in Napoli with all to play for: qualification for the semi-finals is at stake. On the eve of this crucial game, Coach Pioli and Simon Kjær held a pre-match press conference at the Stadio Maradona, broadcast live on Milan TV, YouTube and Twitch.

THE ROSSONERI'S SITUATION
"We know where we've come from, and now we're playing for a place in the Champions League semi-finals. We're only focused on tomorrow's match, and evaluations will be made at the end of the season. Both teams will be ready; a very important objective is at stake, and it'll be a delicate but motivating match. In order to win, we'll have to play at a high level. We know how to do it and possess the qualities to do so."

THE MATCH
"I think it's great to play matches at this level, also because of the atmosphere they generate. It will certainly fire the Napoli players up, but the same will apply to us. There's not much separating the sides after the first leg; we have a very small advantage but need to finish the job by playing at a really high level. We'll need to manage possession well, and the team that do better with their chances will win. Napoli started better than us at San Siro, and this should serve as a lesson for us: a good approach could be key."

NAPOLI AND OSIMHEN
"We always take into account the characteristics of our opponents, especially when we're coming up against such a powerful and strong side. We have our own way of playing and need to implement this intelligently throughout the 90 minutes. Our last two matches against Napoli were games that we had to read; they were made up of moments that we had to interpret in the best way possible. We'll have to be able to dictate the pace of the game and understand when we need to slow down or accelerate. In general, we'll need to read the moments of the match well." 

INDIVIDUALS
"Brahim is making great strides forward. He likes playing when there's pressure and can handle it well. He's a young lad but has real character. He's improving a lot and becoming a top player. Giroud is feeling fine; he had a small problem that he's managed to overcome in the past couple of days. I don't know what Spalletti will do to replace the two absentees, but Napoli have a strong, high-quality squad. We'll see how things go."

SIMON KJÆR

OSIMHEN
"It isn't about individuals but rather the team. We'll face Napoli with maximum respect, but we're primarily focused on ourselves."

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE MATCH
"You never know when these matches will happen again. They're evenings that stay with you for the rest of your life, for better or worse. We play football for these emotions and this adrenaline. The first leg generated some of the best emotions I've felt in my career. The return match will be different, but it's another chance to experience something truly unique."

THE ROSSONERI'S JOURNEY
"It brings me joy to be here; it's one of the dreams I had as a child. We've made many important strides forward on our journey together with the Coach. He pushes us to do better every day, to never be content with where we're at. If you had told us three years ago that this would be our journey, everyone would have taken it. I had a dream but didn't imagine this; it's been great."

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