Milan have done tremendously well this season, despite all the injuries and COVID cases, and the Rossoneri have Stefano Pioli to thank for it. Along with the players, he has made this side one to fear.
As Inter managed to beat Fiorentina last night, Milan are currently one point behind their city rivals but with one game in hand. On Sunday afternoon, they will take on Crotone and the goal, of course, is to reclaim the first place.
And considering how Milan played in tough situation earlier this season, the pressure shouldn’t get to them too much. In an interview with Radio 105, as cited by MilanNews, Pioli spoke about the team and the work they have done.
On pressure…
“I have no tricks, I put passion into it. When I stay all day in Milanello, I’m full of work and curiosity. Being a coach means managing the whole environment at 360 degrees. When I leave Milanello, I have my hobbies and my passions that I allow myself to spend the evenings in peace. I believe I have the right balance.”
On Milan…
“I don’t want to pass for the modest one, but I put my effort into creating this desire to work. We try to take care of everything. The club and I have always believed in it, even in difficult moments.
“The club has always protected us. The results have given us the confidence to the point of creating a beautiful environment, also to grow and where everything goes in the best way.”
On the Rossoneri squad…
“We are among the youngest teams in Europe. From the outside, you don’t have the perception of the guys I’m coaching: they are very responsible, and it’s nice to see them arrive at Milanello happy to train.
“No need to stimulate nobody, they want to be together and they want this season to be important. This makes me proud. Inside the locker room, there are strong characters, and the boys are very good at following these examples.”
On music…
“When I arrive at Milanello, the first thing I do is put on music. For me it means a lot, it puts me in a good mood. I don’t have a favourite genre, but I really like Italian music. Music has always accompanied me.”
On the coach’s emotions…
“It excites me when I see my players give their best and when I see the union to reach the goal. I’m excited by their attitude, when I see players who are stimulated, who are encouraged. We always work to have satisfaction. When I see that there is this sense of belonging it’s beautiful, it means that we have good behaviours, and above all we have passion.”
Due to the COVID pandemic, there have been no fans in the stadiums since February and many have suggested that Milan have benefited from this. The young players being able to play without pressure, the idea is, but Pioli believes otherwise.
“I think we are missing out on fantastic emotions. Our fans supported us even when things weren’t so positive, with great warmth. Now I can only imagine what San Siro would be like with all our fans.
“We hope to be able to see them as soon as possible, it would mean experiencing the beauty of football. This is also why it makes me very proud, the team is showing even if there is no stimulus from the stadium,” he concluded.
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