Stefano Pioli has provided some insight on the current condition of AC Milan forward Rafael Leao whilst also distancing the Champions League tie against Napoli from the 4-0 win in Serie A.
Speaking the day before the Champions League quarter-final first leg against Napoli to Sport Mediaset (via Milan News), the Rossoneri coach was asked about how Leao is doing in the midst of a dip in form and contract negotiations.
“I’ve never seen him as particularly worried. Clearly we live by results, emotions and feelings: we went through a very difficult period in which things were not coming to us, we no longer recognized a certain way of working together on the field and so the results took away some of our calmness, but Rafa is fine. We are fine, we are prepared to have a good end of the season. The season is still to be determined, both one way and the other,” Pioli explained.
The Champions League tie looks to be an extremely tough task for Milan but the Rossoneri did beat Luciano Spalletti’s side 4-0 very recently in Serie A. Despite that, Pioli says that was certainly not a perfect display from his team.
“Believe me when I say it was not a perfect match, there are so many things we can do better in both phases. This is a different competition. It will be a challenge over 180 minutes, situations change quickly,” Pioli began.
“Maybe Napoli will adopt different positions or attitudes than in the league, so will we, the matches cannot be remade in pairs and report everything exactly, so we start with great confidence, determination, will and with the knowledge that we are playing against an opponent who is the team that has scored the most goals in this Champions League, who has won the most matches in the Champions League, who is of a high level and therefore to try to get through this round we have to put in very high quality performances.”
It is set to be a very passionate and emotional evening at San Siro on Wednesday with both teams knowing that should they win the tie, they will then face either Inter or Benfica rather than one of Europe’s modern heavyweights.
“[An evening] with emotion certainly, but with the right serenity. We have prepared ourselves in the best possible way, we know what the Champions League is for Milan, we know the path we have taken to get here, and we will have to have great determination to continue this path in the Champions League,” Pioli said.
Napoli will be without both Victor Osimhen and Giovanni Simeone for the match.
“We will play as always to try to command the game, against an opponent who, however, has great ball possession, great positions that can create difficulties for you. It is inevitable that you have to be good in the match to determine the phases that will happen, as we were good in Naples to unlock the game at the first real opportunity,” Pioli said.
“Great concentration, great decision-making, then certainly both teams will have great motivation, great energy, great strength. There will be a beautiful atmosphere, it will be a high-level match.”
Your team is devoted to a way of playing…
“The way we play, the way we prepare, the way we live the day-to-day… I told the guys that when a team prepares in the best possible way, they must then face the game with great conviction, but with the serenity of having done their best to be ready.”
What must Milan show on the pitch?
“Quality. Quality not only in technique but also in choices. We need to play high-level matches. We have played others, it means we have the ability, and now we are called upon to prove ourselves.”
Is this the most important match of your career?
“A very important match for Milan, and really I hope the next one will be even more important and decisive.”
We have prepared ourselves in the best possible way 😉 with 0-0 against Empoli, do you understand what he might mean? we need to score first and then do not sit back…only way. BTW left UCL picture ManC, Bayern, Chelsea, Real, right picture Benfica, Napoli, Inter and Milan thats funny i would say