AC Milan head coach Stefano Pioli shook hands and exchanged a laugh before tonight’s Champions League quarter-final first leg clash.
The main news for Napoli ahead of tonight’s game is that they are starting without a recognised striker as Victor Osimhen, Giovanni Simeone and Giacomo Raspadori have all been deemed not fit enough.
Spalletti spoke to Amazon Prime Video before tonight’s clash at San Siro, with his comments relayed by MilanNews.
What emotions do you feel?
“A few minutes from the start we have to have fun, these are evenings that we have to experience in all their breadth and not just in depth. If you earn an evening with sweat and sacrifice then you don’t have to make remorse and regrets, go and play it.”
Will the absences be felt?
“When dealing with teams of this level, I’m talking about mine but I can also say those of Milan, there are many champions inside. Champions manage to fix what’s missing in other people’s plays, otherwise what champions are they?
“As in the beginning we lacked great players and those who played put things right, I expect it today too. If you manage to get 20 points more than an opponent you face in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, it means you deserved to be here.”
On Elmas: “He hasn’t played much because 11 players have to play, but he deserves to always play.”
What did you say to Pioli?
“I know several coaches, I’m my age. I respect many of them for what they have done and for the knowledge I have of the quality of their work, he is one of them.”
🤝 Pre-match pleasantries pic.twitter.com/MKIdluvhOJ
— SempreMilan 🏆 (@SempreMilanCom) April 12, 2023
