AC Milan midfielder Tommaso Pobega has branded the Coppa Italia as a ‘vital objective’ for the team as they take on his former side Torino tomorrow.
Milan will face Torino in the last 16 of the Coppa Italia for the third time in fourth years hoping to make the quarter-finals once again, and also hoping to put the disappointment of the draw against Roma behind them.
Pobega spoke to Milan TV on the eve of the game against Roma, a side he spent last season on loan at, with his comments relayed by MilanNews.
“As the coach said: the goal is to win a competition to improve in mentality and in our path. So the Coppa Italia is vital. We have an score to settle against Torino due to the not brilliant match in October: we want to make up for it and we want to show that we weren’t the ones in that match,” he said.
What Turin do you expect?
“When teams come to San Siro they want to try to beat us and Torino will do it with their characteristics. We should be better than them, more precise, trying to bring every episode to our advantage.”
On Sunday you scored a goal again…
“You always have to do more and raise the bar. I’m happy to have scored, it gave me a little more confidence to go back to scoring in Serie A; it’s one of the best sensations: the fans support us, they push us to overcome every difficulty and when you see the full Curva screaming and exulting is the maximum joy that can be achieved.”
What do you think of Calabria’s words on Instagram?
“He is the exponent who communicated what we hear in the locker room, in the video area when we analyse things: mistakes are made in matches and against Roma they were delicate, having arrived at the end of a match we dominated in which we were ahead by two goals and it felt like a defeat. There is regret and annoyance, but we have to start over from the positive things, leaving them behind and going on our way.”
There will be many important games…
“We worked well during the break. It will be a busy calendar, but we will think match by match to recover our efforts and prepare ourselves better for the following match.”