AC Milan coach Stefano Pioli has stressed that Charles De Ketelaere can play anywhere across the attacking midfield and the club have ‘the will’ to make new signings.
Milan will be looking to build on the 4-2 victory at home against Udinese last weekend as they travel to Bergamo to take on Gian Piero Gasperini’s side.
La Dea also got their campaign off to a winning start last weekend as they took all three points at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris against Sampdoria thanks to goals from Rafael Toloi and Ademola Lookman.
It is believed that Pioli will be playing a similar team to that which started the Udinese clash. Ante Rebic and Brahim Diaz should keep their places after an extremely impressive showing against the Friulians.
Sandro Tonali should return to the starting lineup after being injured for the first game. Alexis Saelemaekers may come into the attack in place of Junior Messias.
Pioli spoke to reporters during his press conference which was reported by Milan News and has been translated below.
Where can De Ketelaere play? Can he act on the right?
“He has done very well in all three areas of the attacking midfield, but mainly as a trequartista or second striker. Not as a winger. I think it will be difficult for him to start on the right and if Charles is a trequartista, he will play there. He is a very intelligent boy who is learning the language and shows his application.”
Do you still expect something from the market?
“As far as the market is concerned, we have the will, if there is the right situation, to improve certain areas. The squad is strong, Kjaer is approaching 100%. I repeat, if we find something to improve, great, otherwise we are already competitive as it is.”
Against Udinese we saw consistency, will we see the same thing in Bergamo?
“Last season we know how it went and it created a wealth of experience that we are carrying forward with enthusiasm and awareness. We have prepared for the match well, Atalanta is a very strong team, we know them well. We are ready to show our way of playing on the field.”
Playing against Atalanta is always iconic. What does it represent now?
“It’s a step to grow, to see our performance and every game gives you ideas. They have changed a few players, but not the framework. They combine organisation, intensity and quality. It’s a direct clash, an important match that comes early in the calendar that we have to face in the best possible way.”
What can Tonali become?
“A complete midfielder. He needs experience in certain situations. I found a young man with great humility and desire to work. He knows he must continue on this path, he must be ambitious because he has great potential. But he must maintain this desire, generosity and this feeling of being Milanese. When you play with passion you can give more.”
How similar or different do you imagine tomorrow’s match will be compared to last time?
“We are facing two teams who know each other well, who develop proactive and offensive football. In Bergamo, a year ago, we had the skill to go ahead immediately. I think it will be a close match, a beautiful game to play”.
Do you feel you are the favourites for the title?
“We have to be an interchangeable team. Tomorrow is the end of the first two normal weeks. We are strong, we all have to feel important here, but no one is indispensable. What is indispensable is mentality and work. Favourites? There are 7-8 strong teams. A very balanced championship. One game at a time. We must continue on our path, think about the next game and work to become more and more competitive.”
How important is it to have players with competition?
“The players have to work hard to challenge me. Already the choices for tomorrow will not be easy, but I have to field the best formation at the start. Then we have many offensive solutions like Origi, Saelemaekers, De Ketelaere, Giroud who is fitter. We can remain dangerous for the opponents.”
Will the Scudetto winners have to beat the big teams?
“It will be such a balanced championship that it will be difficult to score as many points as last year. Difficulties will come for everyone, even with teams you don’t expect. Whoever is the most consistent in results and performances will win. You have to play with intensity and quality. Direct matches are important and last year we won precisely because we scored so many points against the big teams.”
How important will Pobega’s full recovery be?
“It must. He has important characteristics. I’m banking on it. He’s better, he had a small problem that caused him to miss training and tests, but he’s ready to be available”.
There was a lot of focus down the right against Udinese.
“It was a situation dictated more by Udinese and the fact that we are a mature team and tomorrow it will be important to read the game. Running a lot in possession is not a good solution, tomorrow we have to move a lot. Tomorrow Krunic won’t be there because he had a small muscle problem and we’ll see how bad it is.”
What is the difference between Messias and Saelemaekers?
“Junior can be better at giving us width and Alexis at going between the lines. It depends on what we need and they are two high-performing guys, both ready to play.”
How important is Bennacer for this team?
“Bennacer combines quantity and quality, he is a complete and strong player. If we want to build with the two centre-backs they will be more available for the construction. It depends on the opponents and what we want to do. By now both he and Sandro can read these things.”
Isn’t there something missing in terms of numbers in midfield?
“Krunic, last year, was our wild card. Today there are five of us. Krunic is to all intents and purposes a midfielder. Bakayoko is fine, he’s better.”
What personal challenge does Stefano Pioli want to win with himself?
“I think it must be part of the ambition of every single member of this group to give more. I have important responsibilities for how I field the team and how I motivate them. The level of my communication with them means I always have to be more direct. We have to work well together to grow. Like the players, I also have to grow and here I feel I can work harder and harder to achieve the best.”
Is it better to go for a more physical team or a more technical one?
“Tomorrow we will need everything. Above all quality, which is what makes you win games. But we must have intensity, mentality and compactness.”
How are you experiencing these first matches as champions of Italy?
“We don’t think about it. We think about preparing for the matches as best we can. We are focused on the match. Great concentration and excellent preparation. Because the team is doing well.”
