AC Milan take on Stade Rennais in the first leg of their Europa League play-off round tie at San Siro tonight, and head coach Stefano Pioli has insisted his side must be at their best to win.
Milan are coming off an excellent period of form in the league (seven wins and two draws in the last nine games) and therefore want to continue this march in Europe too, but they face a team who are also in red hot form.
At the time of the draw, Rennes were hovering above the relegation zone and had won just three games, yet they have won every game in 2024 and have surged up the table into seventh.
Pioli spoke to Milan TV before the game to assess the challenges that his team faces against an opponent full of confidence.
“We have always played with great spirit in European challenges this year, we did it in Newcastle and we want to do it again tomorrow,” he said.
“We are doing well in the league and we have put in a lot of desire and energy, but we will also do it against Rennes because Milan cannot has ever won this competition.
“We all care about it in a particular way but it’s not just us who are the favourites: there are also Bayern Leverkusen, Liverpool and Atalanta.
“It will be a match to be approached with care, Rennes are also coming from an excellent moment just like us.
“I must say that in the matches I saw Rennes play, they had always managed them well, demonstrating team and individual quality, while recently they suffered a little more in the match. We will need to play a high-level match with great attention.
“We are Milan, certainly each of our opponents wants to do well against us also to show off, but like the others they will have great motivation, I can assure you that we will have it too.”
