Milan forward Brahim Diaz said coach Stefano Pioli ‘was the fundamental element’ that improved the Rossoneri and praised Zlatan Ibrahimovic and new signing Olivier Giroud.
The attacker has returned on a two-year loan from Real Madrid after spending 2020-21 at San Siro.
He spoke in a lengthy interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport about his ambitions after getting the No. 10 jersey at the Rossoneri.
Brahim Diaz is the new No. 10 at Milan: ‘I’m not afraid of the pressure’
Brahim went on to praise Pioli’s impact at Milanello and said the coach ‘taught’ the players ‘a lot’.
“He taught me a lot. It’s true that La Liga and Serie A are different, but the ball doesn’t have a language and it’s the pitch that speaks,” Brahim Diaz told the newspaper. “In Serie A, there are many very talented players.
“Pioli has taught us a lot. He was the fundamental element that made us improve and mature in every aspect.”
Veteran forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic seems set to miss the start of the championship, but Brahim Diaz looks forward to having his ‘motivator’ back in action.
“He’s great,” the Spanish attacker said. “He gives useful advice, has experience and every time he plays, he makes a difference.
“He always has and continues to do so. Let’s say he’s a motivator and I like a lot his way of giving advice. His character makes you give your best.
“He really likes to work, and he wants his teammates to do it to the fullest. I consider that a positive aspect.”
Olivier Giroud has arrived to take some of the burden away from the 39-year-old Swede and Brahim praised the new signing.
“Excellent player, of great quality and when he’s in the area, he scores goals,” he said. “He’s also a very nice person, we are happy to have him with us and he will score a lot.”
Brahim Diaz said he believes Milan will fight for the Scudetto in 2021-22 but highlighted there are many direct rivals in the battle for the top spot.
“There are many strong teams that can put us in difficulty, but I think only of us,” he said. “We are Milan, and we have to fight to be protagonists in every competition.
“I would not know who the favourites are. We are a very talented team, who work a lot and we will try to fight in Serie A and other competitions.
“The Scudetto is the target and what we want. We saw that last year we came close and we want to do better and finish first.”
Brahim Diaz will at least spend the next two years at Milan and revealed his ambitions for the future.
“I’m a player with clear ideas, with personality and I like to have responsibility,” he said. “I like pressure, I want to be my best version, have fun playing and know that people have fun when they see me play.”