Stefano Pioli discussed the need for a ‘warm heart and cool head’ in Milan’s Serie A clash against Fiorentina tomorrow.
The Rossoneri currently sit top of the Serie A table after 34 games, two points ahead of intercity rivals Inter, who suffered a disastrous 2-1 defeat to Bologna earlier this week. Pioli’s side have a slightly harder end to the season, so picking up a win against the Viola tomorrow would be an important statement.
Speaking in a press conference today, Pioli first reacted to Paolo Maldini’s words of pride following the comeback win over Lazio.
“He made an impact. He said he was proud of our progress and we are proud to have such high-level managers.”
He touched on the work carried out this week.
“We have always felt that the best thing is to focus on the next game. I’ve seen focus, determination and generosity, those are the characteristics we need to put on the pitch tomorrow.”
The Milan coach commented on if these last four games were more about tactics or mentality.
“Everything counts, then matches are often decided by individual moments and in these you have to put something more than the opponent, whether it’s technical quality, intuition or competitive ferocity.
“But I think it’s wrong to think about the next four games, we have to think about tomorrow’s game.”
Pioli spoke about the emotional approach needed for tomorrow’s match against Fiorentina.
“A warm heart and cool head. We need energy, we play a football that requires intensity and effort, but then we have to be lucid in understanding the game.
“In Rome we didn’t want to have such a negative approach, but then we believed in it until the end and we deserved the victory, that’s what we have to do tomorrow.”
The Milan coach touched on his own emotions at this stage of the season.
“Great concentration and great desire to do our job and do it well until the end. There are no other thoughts, we’re not thinking about May 22, we’re thinking about tomorrow. And that’s how it has to be.
“The predictions have changed from week to week, so the important thing is to give our best tomorrow against a team that plays good, intense, aggressive and fast football. If we perform like Milan we have a better chance of getting the three points.”
He spoke about if the Rossoneri could look to exploit Fiorentina’s tactical system.
“It’s difficult to make these predictions. Fiorentina leave some space behind, but we will need to be able to take the right time by staying inside the game, quickly interpreting situations with focus.”
He commented on where the team need to restart from.
“We have to restart from the two goals we scored, because there is so much of our characteristics with Leao’s attack on depth, Giroud’s slide, Rebic’s pressure, Ibra’s position that prevented the goalkeeper from passing, Tonali’s ability to be there…
“We have to start from these attitudes, if we are intense we have more chances to win. We have to do it with consistency. The league is difficult.
“Bologna and Torino stopped us by playing real games and they have shown that they continue to play this kind of game… What counts is the final score.”
The Milan coach discussed if tomorrow’s game against the Viola was a crucial one.
“The game with Lazio was fundamental, tomorrow will be fundamental, with Verona I’ll say it will be fundamental. I don’t like to say they are all finals.
“We’ve never got excited or down on ourselves. During the week I saw what I expected from the team.”
Finally, Pioli gave some closing thoughts ahead of the match tomorrow.
“I don’t like the idea that everything will go well, but that it will go the way we want it to go.
“We prepared for the game, knowing that in the game we have to put everything we have into it.”
LIVE TMW – Milan, Pioli: "Non è il momento di parlare, ma di fare. Pensiamo solo a domani" https://t.co/F5hqAfku6C
— TUTTOmercatoWEB (@TuttoMercatoWeb) April 30, 2022