PIOLI: "I WANT A COMPACT AND MORE RUTHLESS TEAM"

A big game and an opportunity to earn some precious points in Europe: after two goalless draws in Group F, the Rossoneri are in Paris for PSG v AC Milan on matchday three in the Champions League. Ahead of the highly anticipated showdown, Coach Pioli and Olivier Giroud spoke to the press at the Parc des Princes.

STEFANO PIOLI

PSG v AC MILAN
"It’s a very important match. We’re yet to win in Europe, so our two games against PSG will be highly significant. I hope, however, they won’t be decisive because I think qualification will go down to the last game. We’ll need to be highly focused, play in a compact manner and move as a unit in both attack and defence to reduce their threat. In just a few months, Luis Enrique has done an incredible job; they previously relied on their champions, but he has transformed the way they play. Mbappé is very good at moving at the right moment and doing so at high speed. The more we anticipate his intentions and the more we interrupt the service coming his way, the more we’ll be able to limit him."

EUROPEAN JOURNEY
"We’ve produced two high-quality performances so far, putting in everything necessary to do well on such a stage against such opponents in the form of Newcastle and Borussia Dortmund. It’s strange that we haven’t scored despite creating so many chances. We’ll probably have less space and fewer opportunities tomorrow, but we might end up scoring more.... We need to increase the number of goals we score relative to the amount of opportunities we create and finish off our chances."

INDIVIDUALS
"Giroud is a fantastic man, a great player and a real professional. He’s helped the team grow, especially in terms of mentality, through his hard work and goals. He’s an example to follow. I hope he can score, just like I hope that Leão is decisive. Leão and Pulisic need to go for goal more. Pobega has certain characteristics that have always helped us in the Champions League so far. If I think they’ll help us tomorrow, he’ll play from the start. Okafor should be back for our trip to Naples, and we’ll see about Loftus-Cheek."

SEEING DONNARUMMA AGAIN
"I saw Donnarumma again and hugged him when he was training with Italy at Milanello. We speak to each other now and again. He always gave everything right up until his final day in Rossoneri colours."

OLIVIER GIROUD

RETURNING TO FRANCE
"Going back to France is always a special feeling. I’ve never been close to PSG, but it’ll be a pleasure to play in Paris again. I’m happy I’ll be doing so in the AC Milan shirt. I’ve given some advice to our defenders in particular so that they’re well aware of the threat posed by PSG’s attack."

LEADER
"The group always comes before the individual. I don’t like talking about myself and always put the team before anything else. I’m proud of this AC Milan team, even if we haven’t picked up as many points as we could have done in the Champions League. We always try to score, and, as a striker, it’s very important for me to be decisive. When opportunities come our way, we need to inflict damage on the opposition. In these games, the differences are very small. We know that our two matches against PSG will be tough but, at the same time, important for our qualification hopes."

MBAPPÉ
"I know Mbappé very well; we’ve been playing together for France for years now. He’s exceptionally talented and one of the best players in the world. We’ll need to be very focused, but they are very strong all over the pitch."

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