Stefano Pioli talked about Milan’s summer transfer market, their room for growth and the secret to keeping everyone on the same page.
The Rossoneri squad gathered at the training ground in Milanello this afternoon ahead of the upcoming pre-season training camp. This summer transfer window is one of their most important in years, as strong moves over the coming weeks could be crucial if they want to defend their hard-fought Scudetto.
Speaking in a press conference today, Pioli first discussed the importance of keeping everyone on board.
“It is one of our secrets. Our strength has been to believe in our players, our qualities and our way of playing, having great respect for others and great enthusiasm.
“The courage we should show is to question ourselves. You will ask me many transfer market questions that I will answer in part, but I am sure that many of my players have not yet reached their full potential. We want to grow day by day.”
He touched on if this was the best summer of his life.
“Yes, it was an exciting summer. I enjoyed being with my family and I met a lot of fans wearing the Milan shirt, giving me joy. I carry this enthusiasm with me here today and throughout the season.”
The Milan coach touched on how the squad can continue to grow.
“We grow by inserting players who are functional to our way of being on the pitch. We have to find the right solutions to put in the right place, starting from the fact that we still have margins for improvement.
“Last year we motivated our opponents, but we are Milan and we want to fight to win.”
Pioli spoke about what kind of players the Milanese club need to sign.
“We have ideas about the transfer market. Now we have to evaluate well what is there. Pobega has returned after an exceptional season, he is a strong player who will give us physicality in many games. Adli has arrived who is an interesting player.
“The club is capable and we know how to find the right solutions. I found a squad that is very aware and very mature, we haven’t stopped talking during these holidays.
“The recipe is to keep working day by day. The levels are rising, the expectations and the pressure are also rising because we have won and we want to continue to win.”
He provided an update on Swedish veteran Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
“You know what I think about him. I heard from him this morning. He’s well and recovering from a pretty important injury. I hope I can work with him again because he is a champion in his own right.”
He touched on what he expects now from Rafael Leao.
“He can still do something more, but that’s normal because he is 23 years old. This year he went into double figures and can be even more incisive in the offensive phase. He can split games in half.”
The Milan coach touched on the distance between the Rossoneri and the big European clubs.
“Last year’s experience taught us a lot. We didn’t miss much to be competitive. We can’t think of a Milan capable of winning the Champions League, I don’t like talking about budgets, but if Liverpool and City spend 100 million just on one player it’s difficult to compete.
“I’m sure we have grown a lot. Our ambition is to be competitive in Europe too, we will wait for the draw on August 25. Thinking about winning the Champions League is a bit premature.”
Pioli spoke about Paulo Dybala and Charles De Ketelaere.
“They are two very different profiles. I know that I have very capable managers behind me who will make better decisions to improve the team.
The Italian coach touched on the tension surrounding the contract renewals of Paolo Maldini and Frederic Massara.
“With a lot of calmness, we have continued to work and I have always seen them serene and positive. The club has always shown compactness and we are moving more and more in this direction.”
He commented on the goal for this season.
“I’m not fixating on the goal, but on the path to reach it. You need tenacity and courage, playing every single game in order to win it. Better not to make predictions, it’s easy to get them wrong.”
The Rossoneri coach confirmed Dida would not be returning.
“Dida has informed us that he needs to return to Brazil and will be replaced. I thank him because he has made a great contribution.”
He gave his thoughts on Tommaso Pobega.
“I hope so. He’s an interesting guy, he has good characteristics, he can do well.”
He also spoke about Yacine Adli.
“A very interesting player, technically valid, very capable of breaking free and playing the ball forward looking for teammates in depth. The position in which he can be best exploited has to be understood.
“He’s very intelligent and very prepared. I’ll try to understand in which position to use him more, although we’re not tied to fixed positions and he’s a dynamic player.”
Pioli responded to the question of how well Dybala would fit into his system.
“All players who are good and willing to play as part of a team are useful for Milan.”
The Rossoneri coach said goodbye to Franck Kessie and Alessio Romagnoli.
“I send them a warm hug, they have made a very important contribution. I shared an important journey with them, I wish them the best for their careers.”
He touched on if Milan need to catch up to their rivals in the transfer market.
“I’m sure we’ll be ready on August 13. Then as a coach if they tell me we’ll be full tomorrow I’d be happy, but I know that won’t be the case.
“We are open to many things, but we start from a very solid base. From July 15 I’ll have a strong team to coach and on July 15 I’ll be able to field a strong team in the league.”
Pioli spoke about if he’d deploy a three-man defence.
“The return of Kjaer is very important. I and we have missed him for seven months, for his technical qualities and presence on the pitch, it will take some adaptation.
“The 3-man defence, for the characteristics we have, can be a valid solution and we’ll try to develop it with a bit of attention.”
He commented on which kind of defender he’d like to pick up.
“Tomori is a right-back who can play on the left, his preference of foot is not a determining characteristic. Let’s see, let’s evaluate what we have and then there will be a way and time to intervene.
“The club is ready to do it.”
He touched on when Ibrahimovic will return.
“He’s negotiating the new deal. I hope eventually to have him as soon as possible.”
Finally, Pioli discussed which clubs are Milan’s rivals now.
“There are five or six teams that can fight for the Scudetto. We have managed to create a little magic and synergy to find the Scudetto.
“I can’t wait for July 15 to find it again. It will be important to maintain the spirit and desire to work and grow, always putting the team as a reference point and not the individual.”