AC Milan head coach Stefano Pioli has admitted that his team will not be at their best after a month together, but listed three qualities that they must show.
Some have raised concerns about what was seen in preseason, in which Milan won none of their games out in the United States and generally failed to inspire at either end. Defensive errors were committed like last season, and open play goals were hard to come by.
Nevertheless, the new season is upon us and tomorrow night’s opening game against Bologna at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara provides a chance to silence all the doubters.
Pioli spoke to the reporters who gathered at Milanello for his first pre-match press conference of the season (read in full here), and he began by answering a questions about the best things he saw in preseason and what most be improved.
“After a month, the mechanics can’t be perfect. We’ve worked on many situations and tomorrow we’ll go onto the pitch with clear ideas. The games will tell us where we are but there will be a lot of work to do.”
A journalist then asked him about the possibility of this being an ‘intrepid’ Milan, one that plays fearlessly and with adventure, which he responded to by urging his side to show three traits.
“I think it should be an intrepid Milan that cannot do without three characteristics: ideas, carrying them forward with conviction; quality; sacrifice. If we manage to combine these three factors we will be able to obtain some satisfaction.”
