Stefano Pioli gave a rather interesting post-match interview following the win over Fiorentina tonight, reflecting on his future and an emotional return to a club that he knows well.
Milan emerged 2-1 victors against Fiorentina at the Stadio Artemio Franchi tonight to extend their winning run to six games across all competitions and also open up a six-point gap over Juventus who are in third place.
The three goals in the game were scored inside a frantic seven-minute period in the second half, with Ruben Loftus-Cheek getting the first from close range after Rafael Leao’s cross and Nikola Milenkovic’s slip.
Fiorentina then equalised when Alfred Duncan was allowed run forward and fire into the bottom corner, but Tijjani Reijnders put Rafael Leao through on goal and he sat the goalkeeper down to restore the advantage.
Pioli spoke to Sky immediately after the game to try and analyse what was at times a difficult night for his side but one that ended in the best way. MilanNews relayed his comments.
What was it like being back in Florenzi?
“For me, returning to Florence always means – and it was especially so in today’s match – an emotion, it is always a pleasure to find this environment which has given me so much both as a footballer than as a coach.
“Then there was the match: we approached it well, created a lot, suffered just enough. We played a real match, with confidence, with good control. I’m happy because after the breaks it’s never easy to find rhythm.”
Do you have any regrets?
“It’s an excellent moment, which lasts two or three months. We are growing, improving our performances, the compactness in defending in a certain way. If we defend well we can then hurt any team.
“Then the table is the table. I don’t think there are 14 points between us and Inter, but they took advantage of our month in which we only got two points and they got 12; that’s where the gap came from.”
Scaroni said that you will stay…
“I am very fond of Milan: how can you not be fond of this club? But the players and I don’t have to think about the future. The club does, because it has to plan, understand where to intervene.
“We have to think about what to do on the pitch, but we have always done it, isolating ourselves at Milanello to prepare for the matches. We must do it now too: there are many important events in the league and Europe.”
When was there a click in the season in turning good performances into results?
“Nothing is invented in football and new players cannot be denied time to settle in. We have changed a lot: the new players had to get to know me and I had to get to know them. This year we have a quality team: Pulisic is Pulisic, Loftus it’s Loftus, then Leao, Giroud, Bennacer, Adli, Reijnders…
“We have to play well because we have this type of player. Maybe we’re missing some characteristics, but now we have to make up for it with attention.”
Leao has taken the team by the hand…
“He can drag us along. We accompanied him, he allowed himself to be accompanied. He has very little left to become the champion I always believed he could become.
“But I’m not talking about the goals, I’m talking about the leadership he has, the little extra word he says. Then his quality and his strength: it’s difficult for defenders to stop him.”
Would you stay at Milan?
“I’ve never had any doubts. I won’t let go of Milan, Milan is Milan and I’m very happy at Milan. Then we’re ambitious and everyone expects you to win every match.
“We won the Scudetto two years ago and everyone expects they’re waiting to win. I’m very happy at Milan, then it depends on what happens. I’m happy with everyone, with Furlani, Ibra, Moncada… I’m happy at Milan.”