PIOLI: "WE ARE READY FOR AN IMPORTANT GAME"

A tough match awaits the Rossoneri, who will take on Roma at the Olimpico on matchday 11 in Serie A. The Giallorossi currently find themselves in the upper reaches of the table and are unbeaten at home. There were many talking points for Coach Pioli in his press conference at Milanello on the eve of the game. Here's what he had to say:

ROMA V AC MILAN
"Roma are one of the few sides unbeaten at home and the only team to have stopped Napoli up to this point. They’re a strong side and second to none in terms of quality, while they also have great character. They’re good on dead-ball situations; we’ve also prepared in this regard. A big match in a difficult setting awaits, but we’re ready. We’ll need to try to be precise in our play and composed in the choices we make."

FIRST ENCOUNTER WITH MOURINHO
"He’s a great coach who has enjoyed success everywhere. He’s excellent at building a mentality with his teams. But it won’t be Mourinho versus Pioli; it’ll be Roma versus AC Milan. Roma haven’t changed many players compared to last season, but they now play in a very different manner."

THE TEAM
"Every match is a test, and the one against Roma will be difficult. We must continue to have hunger, work like we’re currently doing and approach every game as if it were the last, trying to win whenever we take to the pitch. No player is indispensable; I want everyone to be attentive and have the team at the forefront of their minds. It’s not possible for us to always be at our best; we have opponents trying to stop us too. The important thing is to have ideas and implement them with consistency and persistence. We always aim to score more than the opposition, but it’s also important to try to keep clean sheets, as we did against Torino."

HUNGER AND MOTIVATION
"AC Milan and Napoli are doing incredibly well. The aim is to maintain really high motivation levels. I’m confident because the team want to win something. We’ll see where we end up, and we’re much more interested in what we’re going to do than what we’ve already done. I’d like the players to think I’m the right coach for them."

BACK AVAILABLE
"Díaz is doing much better. He got back into shape during the week, almost training in full. I’ll think about how I will use him tomorrow. Hernández will start, while Ballo-Touré is also fit."

INDIVIDUALS
"Ibrahimović and Giroud’s conditions are improving, even if they’re still not in optimal shape. One of them will start. Leão is doing well; he’s a player that expends a lot of energy on the pitch. He’s showing that he has a great attitude, as well as big potential. Tomori always gives his all and, consistency-wise, is enjoying an impressive spell. I hope Bakayoko will soon be a possible option from the start."

INJURIES
"Rebić still has pain in his ankle; he won’t be available and we’ll assess him on a daily basis. Messias and Florenzi should return to the group in the next few days, so they might be back for the Porto game or, more likely, the Derby."

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