Stefano Pioli believes ‘quality’ is the key in this title clash between Milan and Napoli, while assuring the surprise Luciano Spalletti pick at San Siro will not change his tactics.
It kicks off at 19.45 GMT, you can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the LIVEBLOG.
These teams were joint leaders for much of the campaign, but Inter have now surged in front and a Milan defeat would automatically crown their city cousins the Serie A Winter Champions.
“It’s a top of the table clash, but just as it wasn’t worth the Scudetto a month ago, it’s not going to be decisive now either. There’s a long way to go and we want to do well,” Pioli told DAZN.
Junior Messias took a very long time to settle in with the Rossoneri after his transfer from Crotone, but has really started to make the difference now and starts again this evening.
“Quality is always the key in every game, especially when the level is raised. Junior has the quality to have that moment of magic, create something and put some interesting balls into the box.”
Napoli coach Spalletti surprised everyone this evening by starting Andrea Petagna rather than Dries Mertens, so will that force a reshuffle at San Siro for Pioli too?
“I don’t know why Spalletti made this decision, we won’t change our defensive tactics. We have the same general approach and it makes no difference, but we do have the utmost respect for the attacking capabilities of our opponents.”
Pioli a DAZN: “Partita d’alta classifica ma non vale lo scudetto. Messias ha le qualità giuste per incidere” https://t.co/JNwttkVNlC
— MilanNews.it (@MilanNewsit) December 19, 2021
What Plan please?
Rather than to accept your mistake and know you aren’t the one to take us to the next level with your December debacle that has been running for three years now.
Please Mr. Pioli and his two assistants he always consult with “Zero Impacts” should just be grateful we have a nice board. Unlike other serious clubs like: Bayern, Chelsea, Madrid, Inter, Fiorentina… he would have been long gun.
If he likes, he should keep playing Messias out of position for that under-performing Diaz. Saving a better plan with more enterprising players for second half… now that everyone now know, “The way to win a Krunic, Diaz, Messia & Ibrahimovic is by hitting them early, and toughening things out against a poor Diaz and poor first half”.
He will not be lucky like last season to make it to top four. Now, the competition is tough.
Continue Mr. Pioli… Every coach sure have their moments of sack.
I know you are not new to sack, so continue! #ForzaMilano
Changing coach won’t change anything! It will only make Milan start from scratch again. Milan target for the next 2-4 years will always be a top four in the league. To make constant appearance in the UCL. It was a really bad luck for Milan to always lose players injured, maybe it’s because the hard training pitch like Zlatan said. If it is the case, then fix the pitch.. not changing the coach.