Sacchi heaps praise on Milan’s project and insists Pioli is ‘getting better and better’

By Oliver Fisher -

Arrigo Sacchi has once again praised AC Milan and the management for the current path that the team are following on and off the field.

 

Sacchi spoke during an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport and gave his thoughts on the upcoming season for the Rossoneri, which will of course begin on August 23 with a trip to Sampdoria, with his comments transcribed by MilanLive.

He began by giving his thoughts on head coach Stefano Pioli, who has been repeatedly praised by fans and the media for the job that he has done since taking over following Marco Giampaolo’s disastrous 111-day reign to start the 2019-20 season.

“I have known him for a long time and I must admit that he amazes me: Stefano Pioli is getting better and better. We see that he studies, that he is committed, that he works methodically. And Milan’s results, in many ways surprising, prove him right,” Sacchi said.

“He has shown that he knows how to work with young players, to be able to motivate them and to transform their enthusiasm into a game that is sometimes brilliant. It seems to me that he is a constantly growing coach.”

Sacchi then went on to mention the good work of Paolo Maldini, a symbol of Milan and someone he coached as a player, but also someone entrusted with leading the club’s revival as the technical director.

“I believe that Paolo Maldini’s presence was decisive in this path, it helped him to have more courage, and more confidence in his own means. Milan already plays European football, seeks domination of the field, with a group of young players they put United in difficulty, who reached the Europa League final.”

Sacchi also touched on a couple of players who were previously heavily criticised for their inconsistency but have now become two of the first names in the team sheet given their tremendous development over the past 18 months.

“Kessie and Calabria were booed by the fans and now they have become idols: it means that Pioli, with them and not only with them, did a great job. In Milan everyone gave their best last season, and this is a credit that must be given to the coach. It is a question of making a further qualitative leap, always keeping the goal clear: the game style.

“When there is that, all the kids feel more confident, they are optimistic, they can even go beyond their limits. Any technical deficit is filled with enthusiasm, team spirit, athletic freshness.”


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