AC Milan head coach Stefano Pioli believes his side are ‘very motivated’ and ‘very concentrated’ ahead of tomorrow night’s Champions League quarter-final second leg against Napoli.
Milan secured an advantage in the first leg thanks to Ismael Bennacer’s goal in the closing stages of the first half, and both Kim Min-Jae and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa picked up suspensions ruling them out of tomorrow’s game.
However, a lot of the media attention in the build-up to the game has been regarding the return of Victor Osimhen who missed the game at San Siro through injury. With him, Napoli’s attack looks more dangerous and he will be looking to add to his tally of 25 goals this season.
Pioli spoke to the microphones of Milan TV on the even of the game in Naples to preview what is arguably the biggest game of his tenure so far, starting by talking about the challenge that awaits in general.
“It is normal that we are very motivated, very concentrated, we will be very determined to try to reach this shift. We are expecting a completely different environment compared to the last match we played there in the league, we are aware of that. But it is equally true that these environments will give us great motivation and great energy,” he said.
Will there be changes from the previous two challenges?
“Probably a little something will change tomorrow too, both in our positions and in those of our opponents. In any case, each game already writes its own story… It’s strange that we meet three times in a few days, but thank goodness that’s the case.
“It will certainly be an exhilarating match, let’s talk about the possibility for one or the other team to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League, so it will be a high-level match, one of quality, attention, determination, intensity, energy, but it will certainly be a high level.”
Are you feeling confident?
“Confidence is there and it must be there, we are aware of our qualities but not because we have already won against our opponents, but because we know our situations, we know our way of playing, we will certainly go down in the field with great confidence.
“We have a very small advantage, but this year Napoli, especially in the Champions League, have scored an average of at least three goals in home games against opponents such as Eintracht, Rangers, Ajax and Liverpool.
“We took a small advantage but it will be a qualification that still has to be earned, conquered and there will certainly be a top-level match to play.”
Have you worked on the defensive phase?
“It should always be emphasised that the work of the team not in possession of the ball is teamwork, it is not the work of departments, of individual defenders, but it is teamwork.
“If we all work together, with communication, with determination, with strong pressure on the opposing ball carrier, then we also facilitate the task of our defenders against very very strong attacking opponents.”
🗣 Coach Pioli and @simonkjaer1989 preview the #UCL return leg against Napoli
🗣 Le interviste al Mister e a Simon alla vigilia di #NapoliMilan#SempreMilan pic.twitter.com/kcmD419CZC
— AC Milan (@acmilan) April 17, 2023
PIOLI IS THE MASTER
He should start Bennacer on the left wing and Leao down the middle to confuse the daylights out of Napoli 😂
Come on AC Milan .you can do it .come on Olivier Giroud we need a goal …You can do it ..
It’s a huge match …just hope we don’t sit back to much and attack ….We have a very good team and a good manager …