Sandro Tonali has explained how AC Milan grew into the game last night against Napoli after what was a very shaky opening 20 minutes or so.
Napoli did not start with a recognised striker but created a number of early chances which rocked Milan, yet the Rossoneri found their feet and got the only goal of the first leg through Ismael Bennacer after a good spell.
Tonali spoke to Milan TV after the game to discuss just how important it was to withstand the early pressure.
“We started poorly, with a lot of technical errors which you can’t afford against a team like Napoli. As the game went on we got a bit lucky not to concede, but we defended well,” he began.
“Bit by bit we grew into it and got out of our own half. We started to attack, and we did it well. We attacked in numbers and that was vital, because when we scored it was because we had a man over at the back post. We showed a lot of intensity, strength and energy.”
On the San Siro crowd: “It was amazing, really amazing. Playing a quarter-final at San Siro against Napoli will go down in history in European and Italian football.
“The fans gave us so much. They drove us on to the victory. They helped us a lot but they always do. In these two years after Covid they’ve always supported us in the toughest moments, in the moments when a team comes together, in bad times. But we’ve come through these trials, thanks also to them.”
On what comes next: “We need to have the capacity to get back to it in the league, because the Bologna game is huge. We have a lot to play for in the coming games, so it’ll be a vital match for us as it will be for them.
“They’ll be really up for it. They’ll be fresher, but we need to play like we did tonight, like AC Milan should, to get the win.”
