AC Milan head coach Stefano Pioli admitted he has begun to draw reflections on the season after his side booked a Champions League place, and also spoke about the upcoming summer window.
Milan came into the game against Juventus looking for just one point to secure their place in the top four and in the end they left Turin with all three thanks to a brilliant first half header from Olivier Giroud.
In truth it was far from a classic between two sides who looked exhausted and lacking in quality after a long and arduous season, but the Rossoneri did what they needed to do and now a third straight season awaits in Europe’s top club competition.
Pioli spoke to DAZN after the game to reflect on what is only a third league double over Juve in the last 50 years, with his comments relayed by MilanNews and translated below.
How do you judge the season?
“It’s time to take stock. The Champions League gave us more than we expected but also a lot of bitterness, going out in the final against Inter. In the league we did less than we could have, reaching the Champions League is a beautiful thing.
“This year was the first time we tried to be competitive on two fronts and we missed out on something, that’s the truth. The team is strong, let’s enjoy the victory. And then it was a strange season. We did 5 months without Maignan, the best goalkeeper in the league. And then our best players took part in the World Cup.”
What did you say to the players in the huddle at the end?
“They spoke, as it should be. They were the main players. We wanted to do well tonight so as not to take it to the last game. They celebrated as they should and I can only thank them. We’ve had ups and downs but the group has never stopped believing in work, in being cohesive.”
What do you expect from the summer window?
“It always depends on the expectations we want to achieve. If we want to be competitive to win the league and reach the semi-finals of the Champions League, it is clear that the team needs to improve.
“To compete in two competitions of this level, you need strong players: then if they’re young, I’m happy, because they’re enthusiastic. If the club wants to be competitive in both competitions, clearly it will have to create a competitive squad.
“It was easier last year than this one. Everyone is responsible, you need patience even if I understand that it isn’t there. If you focus on young players you have to wait, it’s useless otherwise and I always make the examples of Leao and Tonali. I think the club must carry its idea forward, it’s a virtuous club.”
Is that the will of the club?
“I am the coach, you have to ask Maldini and Massara who are interlocutors with the owners and will know what they will have at their disposal.”
Could you return to the three-man defence seen in February?
“In a year of choices that can be changed, there are many possibilities but I don’t think so. We had reached a moment in which we were no longer a team and let’s not forget that we remained an aggressive team.
“That system allowed us to overcome Tottenham, only then we could overcome them. Then when the condition of our players returned, we went back to playing with the 4-2-3-1.”
Hopefullly a better coach will replace him in the summer.
Yes we need a coach who has won Serie A and qualified for the Champions League this year.
Oh the only option is Spalletti..
Ah well.
With fans like you who needs enemies.
O spare me from the typical emotional rants, and use reason for once. We qulified for CL only becouse of Juventus punishment. That’s about it nothing more.Next season we might not be so lucky. Our game play is non existent, only passing back and waiting for induviduals to do something on their own. No tactic, no game plan, let alone plan B when we are getting outplayed by low level teams like Spezzia and Cremonese. And the fact that for a player to get a chance under Pioli someone else needs to get injured, shows you how bad his man management is as well. He kept Thiaw on the bench for whole season while Kalulu was leaking goals lol. So don’t tell me the typical excuse of how he doesn’t have good players when he keeps keeping them on the bench. Does De Zerbi has better team that he is able to play so much better football then Pioli ?
Exactly! Pioli has done miracles with the squad..
Hopefully better commenters will replace you next year 😂😂😂
This is just so funny 😂
I don’t know how people expects so much on pioli this season, when the club was a downgrade compared to last season
Yeah, because 3 consecutive UCL-qualifications, an UCL semi-final and scudetto with an average squad isn’t enough. LOL. I bet you’d be thrilled to have Conte as the head coach…. 😀
after Milan changed their coach, then a miracle will come?
careful what you wish for
Hopefully they can bring quality players in the team.
Get rid the useless ones.
What a fan.
I would say one thing and that is we ended up in this position because of Pioli’s ridiculous rotations against the likes of Cremonese, Lecce and Bologna.
Pioli is never going to have a squad, there is no squad on the planet, where you can rotate almost your entire team at once.
If Pioli wants to be more competitive across all competitions next season he needs to rotate fewer players and do rotations over more matches.
I am a Pioli fanboy. After being in the depths of hell for as long as we where, those who bad mouth him are easily younger than 23 and have 0 idea. They think they are ambitious when they are just being fools.
Serie A is a mirage of what it was. It makes 0 sense to invest in any italian club the way the fifa mobile fans would like to.
The virtuous, low budget path is the only way forward. Maldini and Massara will get a few (maybe many) names wrong, but what M, M and Pioli have done and continue to do is a miracle.
Thank you!
Thanks you James. You can’t be a Milan fan in the last 10+ years and think what we’re doing now is not good enough. I’ve lived through Mesbah as a left back. For f**k sake, our team just made UCL semis and top 4 once more in the last 3 years. What more can you really ask of this team of 8 ish players
Yup…Pioli had some sharp jabs at the ownership today after the game and I’m glad he said it. Basically calling out RedBird about how ambitious they wanna be and if they are then open the wallet.
You’re very correct,man👍🏼…kudos to Maldini,Massara and Pioli for their efforts on the team.
Milan secured top 4 because Juve gets point deduction. Pioli should be fired. He also being unfair to some players (Hauge, Bakayoko, and Adli)
Pioli is an incredible coach. Top 4 the last 3 years, Scudetto and a UCL semi. And decent enough football on the eyes. Young talent. All those wishing for a different coach, be careful what you wish for
Finally Pioli spoke up and demanded signings. This is what I was waiting for. No more being passive Stefano – towing the company line. Great coaches demand better players and for ownership to spend $$ – not crazy because we can’t but certainly more than t0M/season – esp after our CL run. Well done. Put pressure on Ownership to give M&M the budget they need to build a consistent winner in Serie A and CL. we have a special core group of players and we will not be able yo keep them for long – maybe 2-3 years max. Leao, Theo, Mike, etc… will all want EPL salaries and we cannot afford it. So Now is the time to strike and buy the missing pieces – established consistent starting caliber players for striker, RW, mid and ACM. Then sky is the limit. Ball is in Redbirds court. We will see what kid of club they aspire us to be – one of the top in Europe or a feeder club
*50M/season…
Inter managed to rotate more than half their squad. It’s possible if Milan have the players. Our worst mistake is going into next season with only Leao and Giroud to rely on. We need creativity in Midfield, we need a decent striker, amd RW. Otherwise we will overstretch our core and run the risk of also rans next season.
There’s a couple of good freebies to help stretch the budget. Thurman, Tielemans, will surely help redirect the limited budget. Then you have relegated teams like Leicester where you could get Amartey on the cheap. M&M just need to get out of the blocks quicker and more aggressively.
Amartey is older. Why not Tilemans, Faes, Patson Daka to name a few can be up for grabs
Those who want Pioli to be sacked you are just dreaming.
Just want to say ,what a season Olivier Giroud has had .the man has been amazing ..He is a class act ,and also said if you read my posts ,that i believed he would score against juventus which he did ..
I also said that we could win the scuddeto when Olivier Giroud was signed .. never ever ever write off this man ..His goal tally reads quite good ,much better than many of you seem to understand..What a great headed goal from him ,it was last night ..He is an amazing centre forward,,and don’t be surprised to see him play again next season ..We will no doubt buy another couple of players next season ,including a centre forward and perhaps a strong midfield player such as lotus cheek …That certainly doesn’t mean that Olivier will not get his share of games ..Rafael Leao had a poof game last night …Olivier Giroud is finishing the season stronger despite his age ,four goals in two games .I hope carries on for a long time yet ..
Don’t rule him out for playing for his country France at the next euros ..I have followed Giroud for many years .I am going to say this over and over again ..one if the best strikers in the world ,inside the 18 yard area ,the best in the world ..What a player ..just to note look at this season ,,,it has worked out much better that most imagined ,semi finals of the champions leauge ,also qualified for next season ..I would say this has been a success…also I defend pioli ..He is an excellent manger …long live AC Milan and Olivier Giroud.
Wow you love Olli.
He is absolutely to old for this level.
He offers absolutely nothing bar scoring headers.
His goal return is terrible but most importantly he can’t run so it’s like playing with 10 men.
Just want to say ,what a season Olivier Giroud has had .the man has been amazing ..He is a class act ,and also said if you read my posts ,that i believed he would score against juventus which he did ..
I also said that we could win the scuddeto when Olivier Giroud was signed .. never ever ever write off this man ..His goal tally reads quite good ,much better than many of you seem to understand..What a great headed goal from him ,it was last night ..He is an amazing centre forward,,and don’t be surprised to see him play again next season ..We will no doubt buy another couple of players next season ,including a centre forward and perhaps a strong midfield player such as lotus cheek …That certainly doesn’t mean that Olivier will not get his share of games ..Rafael Leao had a poor game last night …Olivier Giroud is finishing the season stronger despite his age ,four goals in two games .I hope carries on for a long time yet ..
Don’t rule him out for playing for his country France at the next euros ..I have followed Giroud for many years .I am going to say this over and over again ..one if the best strikers in the world ,inside the 18 yard area ,the best in the world ..What a player ..just to note look at this season ,,,it has worked out much better that most imagined ,semi finals of the champions leauge ,also qualified for next season ..I would say this has been a success…also I defend pioli ..He is an excellent manger …long live AC Milan and Olivier Giroud.