AC Milan boss Stefano Pioli has insisted that he is not feeling the pressure despite tonight’s game against Napoli in the Champions League being potentially the biggest of his career.
The Champions League draw in Nyon last month produced an all-Italian battle as champions Milan were pitted against runaway league leaders Napoli, while Inter and Benfica were also put on the same side of the draw with the Nerazzurri winning the first leg 2-0 last night.
The game at San Siro tonight has the added sub-plot of coming 10 days after Milan beat the Partenopei 4-0 at the Maradona to suggest there might well be more parity in the tie than the standings suggest.
Pioli spoke to Amazon Prime Video in the build-up to the game between Milan and Napoli, with his comments relayed by MilanNews.
The most important match of your career, will he feel the weight?
“No weight, I won’t feel it. Just the pride of being here. We represent a great club that has made the history of this competition and we will try to honour it.”
What do you need to do to achieve the perfect game?
“Perfect matches don’t exist, those who play football make mistakes. You have to play a high-level game for sure. Single incidents can change the result.”
What did he tell the players?
“To play with great clarity and with a big heart. The guys know very well what we have done to be here. The approach, the determination, the energy that we will put on the field will certainly be of a high standard.”
