Stefano Pioli reveals he has ‘doubts every day’ whether to put pressure on Milan or ease it off, but after the 2-0 win over Genoa sees only ‘positive energy, challenging for something that when we started together was unthinkable.’
The Rossoneri were in dire need of a confidence-booster after back-to-back goalless draws against Bologna and Torino.
Although it was far from a vintage performance, they did enough to push past Genoa 2-0 at San Siro with Rafael Leao and Junior Messias goals.
It leaves them two points clear at the top of the table, although Inter do still have a game in hand, so it is only a virtual leadership.
Serie A | Milan 2-0 Genoa: Leao and Messias end goal drought
“Naturally, I saw Inter’s result, but we knew that whatever happened, we would try to win every game. I think we had the right approach and hunger this evening, we ran very few risks and that is an important factor,” Pioli told DAZN.
“Genoa were working hard to neutralise Tonali and make it difficult for him to get involved in the build-up play. Sandro has improved so much recently, being able to shake off close marking is the one remaining thing he needs to work on.”
It was the sixth consecutive clean sheet for Milan, even though their defence was decimated and lost Davide Calabria to a stomach bug in the warm-up too.
“I ask for a great deal from my players when they are working off the ball, but that is necessary. We have to keep going, the tension is rising and so is the pressure, but it was actually worse last season. At this stage, we weren’t sure if we were going to finish in the top four.
“Now we have to feel the pressure as nothing but positive energy, because we are challenging for something that when we started working together was unthinkable.”
Inter are reigning champions of Italy, whereas Milan are trying to achieve something they haven’t experienced in over a decade, so is Pioli pushing his squad or reassuring them?
“I have the same doubts every day in training, whether I ought to crank up the pressure or lessen it. Ultimately, I have to expect a lot from them, it’s only right to believe in our capabilities. We have made such a strong journey to get here and we want to get back to being a winning club, so we need to make that effort.”
In theory, Milan have the more difficult run-in of fixtures in the Serie A race, but then looking back at their results, the minnows have if anything been trickier customers.
“I expect difficult matches, but no more or less than the last few, and everyone else is in the same boat. We dropped more points against the clubs in the lower half of the table, yet if we are first or virtually second, it means the other teams have had the same difficulties.
“I don’t think any of the sides have an easier or harder run-in, it’s just about making your quality count.”
Wow 🎯
What a ball from Kalulu and a wonderful finish from Rafael Leão! pic.twitter.com/W8YT3fr7oV
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 15, 2022