AC Milan coach Stefano Pioli has said that he will always be thankful to Paolo Maldini and Frederic Massara whilst also suggesting that Milan will sign more than just midfielders this summer.
Speaking during an interview with Milan TV at the start of pre-seson (via Milan News), the coach was asked about an array of topics, many of which were transfer related.
He was very quick to thank the recently departed director Maldini and Massara for the work that they have done in recent transfer windows, saying: “I will always thank Paolo [Maldini] and Ricky [Massara] and if I am here it is thanks to them. My role has not changed in a general sense: what I share with Paolo and Ricky, today I share with Giorgio [Furlani] and Geoffrey [Moncada]. I see the motivation to make the team more competitive.”
An area where there has been and will continue to be lots of change is the midfield, as Sandro Tonali has gone and more than just Ruben Loftus-Cheek is expected to come through the door.
Pioli suggested that the midfield is not the only area where there will be signings, saying: “Clearly Tonali’s departure and Bennacer’s injury mean changes. It won’t be the only department where there will be new additions.”
Speaking about his time at the club in a more general sense, Pioli said: “They have been intense years for all that we have lived and will live through. We start a new season with the same enthusiasm and the desire to always do something new. It was a particular season last year, of change, now we have to start again with the passion, the ideas and the quality of my players.”
The coach also confirmed that he spoke to Gerry Cardinale recently: “Yes I heard from Cardinale this morning and he wished us good luck: on the one hand he encouraged us and on the other stimulated us to make it an important season. We are pleased with his closeness.”
On the plans for the new campaign, Pioli said that a lot depends on who they sign: “For sure I have something in mind: season after season, we analyse the work done. I think it will be a long summer even though we are not in favour of such a long market for us coaches. A lot, however, will depend on the characteristics of those who arrive, the characteristics of the players have to be assembled but we already have ideas and a consolidated team base.”
First day of pre-season
“Until July 20, we won’t have the whole group. It will be a moment of entry and getting to know the new players who have already arrived. From now until the tour in America I hope to have a more complete group.”
On Tonali
“Very important what we experienced together, I can only thank him.”
Objectives
“We want to go as far as possible, that’s for sure.”
Good luck mister on new season