Pioli echoes Maldini’s words as he discusses what is next for Milan and his personal dream

AC Milan boss Stefano Pioli has discussed what is next for his squad and this group of players after achieving a second-placed finish.

The Rossoneri travelled north to Bergamo knowing that only a win against Atalanta would be enough to guarantee a finish in the top four, and given that both Napoli and Juventus – who were breathing down their necks – had easier fixtures on paper, some had Milan as underdogs to secure Champions League qualification.

However, Pioli’s men got the job done in very efficient fashion, becoming one of the only teams to stop Atalanta scoring at home and making it five clean sheets on the bounce with a 2-0 victory and Franck Kessie netted twice from the penalty spot. It means that Milan secured their highest finish since 2011-12 and their first UCL berth since 2013-14, and it promises to be an exciting summer ahead.

Pioli was a guest in the Milan TV studios during the “Inferno del Lunedì” broadcast conducted by Mauro Suma, with his comments transcribed by MilanNews and translated below.

On the next targets: “As I arrived at Milanello there were no carousels, but as I entered I felt good. I feel I am in the right place and this pushes me to give everything, to try to do something really important and continue to do so. Today we are talking about a great season, I am already thinking about the next one. You have to continue to demonstrate, to grow, to improve. I took advantage of all my experience to raise the bar and so must we: the club supports us, we will do the most of what we can do, whatever will be necessary to carry out our ideas to satisfy an audience that is fantastic.”

On his dream: “Winning something and doing it in Milan would be something exciting, but I remember very well an interview with Maldini in which he said that the club must play the Champions League for 2-3 consecutive years to return to being a top club. we must confirm ourselves, grow: that will be our goal. We must start with ambitions because we are Milan. I dream at night and work during the day so that dreams can come true. This is what we must do.”