Pioli discusses contract situation, lessons from Napoli loss and double clash vs. Chelsea

By Oliver Fisher -

Stefano Pioli believes that AC Milan are very much ready for a big test against Chelsea in the Champions League, and insisted that he is not worried about his contract situation.

According to what La Gazzetta dello Sport (via MilanNews) reported this morning, Milan’s new owner Gerry Cardinale seems to have very clear ideas about his project and he sees Pioli at the centre of it after his excellent work in winning the Scudetto last season.

The Rossoneri head coach has a contract that expires in June 2023 but the relationship between Pioli and the club is excellent and everyone is on the same page, so the plan is to extend his deal until at least 2024.

Pioli spoke to the reporters who gathered at the award ceremony for the 43rd edition of the Nereo Rocco Tournament and he was asked about a number of different topics related to Milan, from the defeat against Napoli to his future, and his comments were relayed by MilanNews.

Are you happy with the team’s progress?

“We are trying to further improve our level and I believe that we are doing well but that the difficulties in the league are evident. in the sense that it is a very level championship between strong teams that will fight until the end and we want to remain in the group that will fight until the end.”

What did you learned from Milan-Napoli?

“A lot of things, we certainly had a high level performance but the fact that we didn’t score any points means that in some situations we have to and can do even more.”

Is it a strange season where anyone can win?

“Not anyone, but that it will be an anomalous season, this is evident and we will have to manage the players who will go to the World Cup well. The season will now see us very busy and staying in the top positions will be a goal for all who want to win.”

Would you like to start a cycle with this club?

“At Milan I feel at home and when one feels at home one would not want to consider anything else. We still have many things to do but I am not worried about my contract or my future.”

The award is named after a coach who has won everything with Milan, are there the conditions for opening a cycle?

“I am proud to receive this award, we have the patron at Milanello watching us and when you arrive at Milan the goal is to be competitive and win something. The goal is to keep improving, we are a young team but with awareness that can allow us to aim for the top.”

What effect does returning to Florence have on you?

“It’s always special, from a footballing point of view I have many ties, it’s always an exciting moment.”

The target for the next two months, apart from recovering the injured players?

“Win as many games as possible.”

How can your team be more European?

“I still believe that there is not so much difference between playing well in Italy and in Europe. The Champions League requires a very high pace, but nothing impossible. If we keep to our levels, the games against Chelsea are also within our reach.”

Chelsea-Juve-Chelsea: are these the three games to understand at what level you are?

“I understand the expectations but the most difficult match will surely be the one against Empoli. I will get the players back [from international break] two days before the match and the match against Empoli is very delicate. Those three matches are head to head but we have a level tall and we are a strong team, but we must find consistency of results to compete.”

Tags AC Milan Stefano Pioli
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