AC Milan coach Stefano Pioli has said that his team just have this one chance to qualify for the Champions League round of 16 as he talks up the importance of the match against Newcastle.
Speaking ahead of the match to Prime Video (via Milan News), Pioli did not hold back when asked about the pressure that is on the team at St. James’ Park this evening.
“It has to be, we have to think like this. The opponent here is tough, intense. We have to believe in our qualities, in our characteristics to be able to win this match because we only have this chance,” he said.
Milan need to ensure that they win in England, whilst they also need to hope that Borussia Dortmund beat Paris Saint-Germain in the other match as the German side have qualified.
Pioli was asked about the mental side of this challenge, to which he said: “I think it is very mental, you have to be in it in these games. We know what intensity they will bring, we know we can have difficulties. The matches are long, they change, we have to be in it until the end. In the first leg we didn’t manage to score a goal, but we managed to put them in trouble.”
The first match between the two sides at San Siro saw Milan miss a number of great chances and it ended 0-0. Had they won that game, the group stage may have panned out in a different way.
When asked if there are regrets about that game, Pioli said: “Yes, but this is not the time to talk about these situations. At the end of the game we will make assessments of our entire run in the round. We had situations that we had to use better in all the matches. I believe that only in Paris did the team lose, in quotes, deservedly against an opponent who played better than us. In the other games I think the level was high, close to our opponents, but because of many small details that can make a difference at this level we were not able to bring home more results. Now we just have to think about being more effective in the two areas, those are the situations that we paid dearly for in this Champions League.”
Asked about the dangers that Newcastle pose to Milan, Pioli said: “It’s a very vertical team, with quality players like Joelinton who inserts a lot. It’s a complete team, we have to pay attention to all defensive situations.”
On the return of Zlatan Ibrahimovic to the club: “I heard him, he’s not here with us and I don’t think he spoke to the boys about the game. He starts a new path in his career, he will do it as he has always done, with intelligence, respect and great motivation. He will be an asset for the club, for the players and for me and for everything he can give.”
