PIOLI: "WE NEED TO BELIEVE"
Press Conference
The Champions League is back and AC Milan host PSG at San Siro. The Rossoneri need a win to climb the table and keep their qualification hopes alive. Ahead of the game, Stefano Pioli and Mike Maignan spoke in the pre-match press conference.
CURRENT FORM
"I think we've been unlucky in games where we deserved more: against Juventus and Napoli. We weren't good enough against Udinese and that disappointed us most of all. We need to reverse the trend by doing something different. I know that I'm coaching a good squad and the boys have it in them to play really well."
AC MILAN V PSG
"This game has to be the turning point in our Champions League campaign. We can't place our faith in results elsewhere; we need points. Our opponents are a top side but I have great players and we have the right idea. We need to believe from start to finish. Today has been about hard work and discussion. Our preparations have focused on the necessary concentration and hunger to put in a top performance."
LEGACY OF THE REVERSE FIXTURE
"Our lesson from Paris taught us that our attention levels need to be really high. They can strike at any moment but they also leave themselves open at times. We'll need to be aware of that and make use of any chance that comes our way. We were compact in the first leg and won the ball back well; we just have to be more awake to certain situations like the Mbappé goal."
INDIVIDUALS
"Pulisic and Chukwueze are fit. Samuel has had fewer minutes after getting injured on international duty. I think Christian will start but Samu will be ready to make his contribution. Mike is always at the heart of our tactical set-up. Building up from the back is very important in modern football and he's a top player. He gives us a lot of security; he's worked hard on it in recent years.
ATMOSPHERE
"I think that the fans will do everything to push their team to the point that we'll play like AC Milan should. We need to win them over and make them our 12th man. We want to show that we're better than our last game. We're aware of what happened and we'll have the chance to put in a vintage AC Milan performance."
ON THE GAME
"We're working on a reaction to get a good result. We made it to the semis last season and we want to pick up as many points as possible in our last three games. We need to do what we know we can in order to win. It'll be a tough game for us, but also for them too. We'll need to give it our all and rediscover our confidence and grit, safe in the knowledge of what we can do, and we can do well. There's no room for emotion, we need to give it everything and play like AC Milan should."
MAIGNAN V DONNARUMMA
"He's a great goalkeeper, one of the best. He shows this in every game and has done so at the start of this season too. The best for me is yet to come. I can be decisive and dedicated. I am Mike, I have the right character. I do what I know I can do; I'm a natural leader and I always try to do my best."
MIKE AGAINST MBAPPÉ
"Kylian is a top player, tough to predict and take on. We lost 3-0 last time and the game is 11 v 11: my duel isn't against him."
The AC Milan PUMA Kits for 2023/24 are available: buy them now!
