PIOLI: "WE'LL NEED TO PUT IN OUR BEST EFFORT"

After returning to the Rossoneri dugout for AC Milan v Celtic in the Europa League, a match in which the team emerged victorious to qualify for the round of 32 of the competition, Coach Pioli is preparing to lead the Diavolo at the Ferraris, where Sampdoria v AC Milan will be played at 20:45 CET on Sunday 6 December. The Coach held a press conference on the eve of the matchday ten clash, here's what he had to say:

SAMPDORIA V AC MILAN
"It’ll be a difficult match. Sampdoria are a well-drilled side with quality players. We’ll need to be very composed and precise. I have great respect for Ranieri, he was once my coach and was a very important figure in my development, including professionally. I was rooting for him when he was in charge of Leicester, he’s had an excellent career. I also know Candreva well, we should certainly watch out for him. We’ll need to be at our best."

ARE AC MILAN THE NEW LEICESTER?
"It’s not impossible for the Leicester story to be repeated, but it’s extremely difficult to achieve such a feat. We’re still in the early stages of the league season and we're taking it one game at a time. We're currently focusing on doing well in Genoa: our aim is to do all that we can to win. We’ve done well to remain balanced."

THE TEAM
"We can achieve various objectives and are primarily focused on preparing as best we can, performing well and playing a good brand of football. I’ve always had faith in this team and these players, we haven’t won anything yet but are ambitious and motivated. Our training session today was perfect, and we’re doing well both physically and mentally. Against Celtic, we got a few things wrong and paid the price for it. We were given a lesson, but we also managed to respond and demonstrate great character. All these aspects are small building blocks that come together to create a certain mentality, they make you strong."

INDIVIDUALS
"Rebić suffered an unpleasant injury, but now he’s doing well, even when he doesn’t score: he’s helping the team out a lot. I’ve always been frank with Ibrahimović. During the summer, I said to him that it wouldn’t be right for him to stop playing and that myself and the Club would do everything to convince him to carry on after he’d proven that he was still capable of playing and making the difference. The Club did well to bring Hauge in, we were fortunate that we were able to see him from up close in the Europa League. He can still develop a lot, but he’s very intelligent and a useful asset for the team. We’ve got a lot of cover in that position and have many quality solutions. Çalhanoğlu and Díaz are two attacking playmakers with different characteristics. A False Nine? It’s something we sometimes implement when Ibra is available. Kjær has a muscle problem that needs to be reassessed in a week, he’s feeling calm but disappointed because he’s a real rock for us. He’ll be able to make the most of this period to rest and recover. Ibrahimović and Leão also won’t be available. Musacchio is close to a return, he’s on the way back after a long injury. Hernández is becoming increasingly attentive and focused, he’s got some great qualities and is already performing at very high levels, but he can still improve.”

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
"I’d like to thank all the Milanell staff, who ensured that we were able to train today following the heavy snowfall yesterday. The Club puts everything at our disposal at Milanello so that we can work at our very best."

THE ROSSONERE’S WIN IN FLORENCE
"Ganz is always on the ball, he never gives an inch. I’d like to compliment him and the team on what they’re doing. I’ve often watched their matches on TV and they have a great spirit. Keep it up, girls!"

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