Empoli boss Maurizio Sarri warns “few in Europe” have a strike force as impressive as Milan.
The two teams go head-to-head on Sunday at 11.30 GMT, click here for a match preview.
“Milan might be having difficulty expressing their full potential, but few in Europe have a collection of forwards as good as theirs,” said Sarri in a Press conference.
Empoli boss Maurizio Sarri warns “few in Europe” have a strike force as impressive as Milan.
The two teams go head-to-head on Sunday at 11.30 GMT, click here for a match preview.
“Milan might be having difficulty expressing their full potential, but few in Europe have a collection of forwards as good as theirs,” said Sarri in a Press conference.
“They could beat anyone, so we mustn’t make the mistake of thinking Milan are an ‘easy’ opponent. We require humility, staying calm and making the most of our characteristics.
“We have what it takes to cause the Rossoneri problems. We are talking about great players, so I ask my men not to be passive for a single moment.”
Empoli had gone nine rounds without a Serie A victory, but ended that run beating Cesena 2-0 last week.
“People had assumed we would be relegated, but the truth is we lost only two of the last 15 games,” continued Sarri.
“How were we supposed to lose confidence in that situation? It seems absurd to me. It’s true we often didn’t get the points we deserved for our performances, but that was always going to be a potential limitation of our playing style.
“The win over Cesena shouldn’t change anything, just as the defeats didn’t change anything. We must only work hard, preferably harder than anyone else. It is the only way to shake off the influence from results.”
Riccardo Saponara cannot face his parent club because he came down with chickenpox this week.
Empoli often chop and change between their three strikers – youngster Manuel Pucciarelli and old hands Francesco Tavano and Massimo Maccarone.
“They’ve all played more or less the same amount this season. It is pleasing for a Coach to be troubled by many options available to him.”
Having just been promoted from Serie B, Sarri was asked about Lazio President Claudio Lotito’s comments that ‘small’ clubs like Carpi and Frosinone are bad for business in the top flight.
“I am cheering on Carpi, clearly. I have no interest in what Lotito has to say, but Empoli are a small and very effective club. I hope Lotito’s opinion is not shared by the other big clubs.”