AC Milan coach Stefano Pioli has talked up the importance of the crowd at San Siro ahead of the Champions League quarter-final against Napoli on Wednesday evening.
Read SempreMilan ad-free and get access to exclusive news. Click here for a free trial!
Speaking during an interview with Milan TV (via Milan News), the Rossoneri coach addressed a couple of key issues that will affect the outcome of the first leg at San Siro.
He was asked what the importance is of having players that have played at this sort of level before and he explained that it certainly does help, along with other elements such as the crowd.
“People who have already been through these games help us experience them the best. We did significantly better than last year in the Champions League, but all energies are turned to tomorrow’s game. The crowd will help us,” Pioli explained.
In terms of Milan’s general preparation for the match which kicks off at 21:00 CEST, the coach talked about how it will be impossible to recreate the 4-0 win over Napoli in Serie A as this is a different challenge over 180 minutes.
“We have done everything to prepare ourselves in the best possible way. We have to be calm and determined, in wanting to play the best game possible. A challenge that will stretch over 180 minutes. Impossible to repeat the same game in the league, both for us and for them. Many things could change,” Pioli said.
He was also asked about what Milan’s goals are in the tournament this season and he explained that they have not set any limits.
“We have never set ourselves any limits: we want to grow through victories and good performances, we have also done so through defeats. Now we are at a time when we want to be ambitious. We want to get to the top. We want to improve and look forward,” Pioli said.
