Stefano Pioli explains why he has chosen Rade Krunic to start for Milan against RB Salzburg and what passage to the Champions League knockouts could mean for the club. ‘This makes the team balanced.’
It kicks off at San Siro at 20.00 GMT.
The Rossoneri need only a point to guarantee their progress to the Champions League Round of 16.
“We feel good, we want to get through to the next phase and it’s going to be a difficult game, but we have the quality to do well,” Pioli told Amazon Prime Video Italia.
“It’s a match that means a great deal, but I am sure we’ll play many just as important games in future. We want the victory, we need to be focused and we’ve got what it takes.”
Milan were out of the Champions League for seven years, then won the Scudetto and are on the verge of the knockouts for the first time in nine years.
“It is an important step and would show the growth of this side in Europe as well as Italy. We must have the best possible performance.”
Pioli has taken a surprise approach by leaving both Brahim Diaz and Charles De Ketelaere on the bench, using Rade Krunic as a makeshift trequartista behind Olivier Giroud instead.
“We play with three midfielders and three forwards. This makes the team balanced, so we can do well both with the ball and out of possession.”