AC Milan and Inter will take to the field at the King Fahd Stadium to play for the first trophy of the Italian season: the Supercoppa.
La Gazzetta dello Sport (via MilanNews) writes how given Napoli’s unstoppable run in the league and the Rossoneri’s premature elimination from the Coppa Italia, the Super Cup could be the match that defines the season for Milan fact that it is a derby only increases the stakes.
Stefano Pioli mentioned three key words during yesterday morning’s press conference, as the coach was keen to specify that the bad moment Milan have been experiencing in the last few days is an opportunity to dig in and put things right.
Pioli said: “This is the moment of pride and energy. If we are here it is because we won the Scudetto and now we can win another trophy.” Milan, since those two goals conceded by Roma at the end of the game, have seen some of their certainties disappear and the Rossoneri coach sees the Supercoppa as a chance to get back on the right path.
“In difficulties you grow. I learned more from negative experiences than from positive ones,” he said, with the now famous 5-0 defeat in Bergamo against Atalanta regarded as a turning point for his side.
Milan have lacked quality in the last few games, in managing the lead against Roma in possession of the ball and with a man advantage against Torino, and against Lecce when they found themselves two goals down early on.
Pioli wants to rediscover this factor that has characterised his side in recent years and that means working on various aspects from ball possession to concentration, from defensive organisation to being clinical in front of goal.
“We have to raise the bar in everything,” Pioli said yesterday. Then there is the strategy too, or more specifically the desire to go out and put their stamp on the game as they did last season and in the post-lockdown run. For that, key men like Leao and Theo will very much be needed.