Stefano Pioli was irritable ahead of Milan’s match against Juventus, noting they ‘cannot control what is said’ and explains why Rafael Leao is captain today.
It kicks off at the Allianz Juventus Stadium in Turin at 17.00 UK time (16.00 GMT).
This is a head-to-head for second place, although the Rossoneri will keep hold of it for at least another week regardless, sitting five points clear of their opponents.
The pressure is all on Pioli with speculation running wild on his replacement.
“I expect us to play well and win the game, because we have the capabilities to do that. We cannot control what is said on the outside, but we can concentrate on our performance, so that is what we will do,” a visibly irritable Pioli told DAZN.
It has been a disastrous end to the campaign, crashing out of the Europa League quarter-finals to Roma and losing the Derby della Madonnina to hand rivals Inter the Scudetto last week.
Pioli explains Leao decision
The cards picked up in that match mean Fikayo Tomori, Theo Hernandez and Davide Calabria are all suspended, plus Simon Kjaer, Pierre Kalulu and Luka Jovic injured.
Because of that, Rafael Leao is wearing the captain’s armband, so was that a choice to put more responsibility on him after a dire derby performance?
“He is captain because he has the most appearances and that is the criteria we use. There is no need to put more responsibility on his shoulders, he knows full well what it means to wear this jersey.”