Pioli: ‘Milan must focus only on ourselves’

Stefano Pioli explains the rather strange Milan tactical changes against Monza, gives injury updates, hails debutant Jan-Carlo Simic and warns they must ‘focus only on ourselves.’

The Rossoneri turned on the style at San Siro, taking the lead within three minutes with a Tijjani Reijnders solo slalom through defenders.

The second goal was from 18-year-old debutant Simic on a Rafael Leao assist, then Noah Okafor completed the rout with a well-worked team goal.

However, there was bad news too, as Tommaso Pobega and Okafor went off with yet more muscular injuries, taking the total number this season to 29.

“Pobega looks like a hip problem, Okafor perhaps was a cramp, he has only just recovered from an injury to the other leg. We hope it’s not too serious,” Pioli told Sky Sport Italia.

Their tactics with the return of Simon Kjaer seemed to surprise Monza, as at times it was shaped in a 3-3-1-3 formation with Alessandro Florenzi moving up into midfield and Pobega helping the defence.

“The idea was to protect two players, as Kjaer was coming off injury and not in great shape, while Florenzi hadn’t played three games in a row for a long time. Monza attack with five players, so with a four-man defence we’d have to move around a lot more.

“However, playing with three, four or five at the back is not what matters, it’s all about the interpretation. With Simic coming on for his debut, we preferred to keep Florenzi closer to the defence to read the transitions, while Loftus-Cheek went a bit deeper in transition.”

Milan put in another strong performance after the midweek 2-1 win in Newcastle and Pioli believes they have to ignore wider targets or how other teams are doing.

“We must keep working and focusing on ourselves, raise the level and give a sense of consistency.

“It was particularly tough today for the way that Monza play, but also as we used up a lot of energy midweek. The lads played with the right energy, focus and motivation. The young players should be applauded, this work from the club goes back many years.

“We have to focus on ourselves and not make comparisons with others, keep raising the bar for ourselves and then later on see where we are.”

Simic came on for his debut and the 18-year-old immediately found the net from six yards.

“Unfortunately or fortunately, this is part of the football world, we have these huge emotional moments,” added Pioli.

“Sometimes they are negative, like the other day in Newcastle when we didn’t achieve the objective we wanted, and today positive to see this young lad work with such a desire to help the team and make his mark.

“We won in Newcastle and today because we thought there was only one option, which was to win, play with strength, focus and determination, so we need to continue taking it one game at a time like that.”

Considering Juventus drew and Inter are visiting Lazio this evening, should Milan be looking up at the top or behind them to protect third place?

“As I said, we have to look only at ourselves, giving our best in every game and facing the next match as the only target. Our minimum aim for the season is a top four finish, so we need results to consolidate that.

“Players do well to believe in their potential, but I only say our next objective is facing Salernitana.”