PIOLI: "WE CAN'T WAIT TO PLAY"

It's Serie A once again. The break for the World Cup stopped the season almost halfway through, but now it starts for real and will go all the way until the end. It will be an important January, tricky and full of games on several fronts. The Rossoneri's 2023 will begin in Salerno, where AC Milan will face Salernitana at the Stadio Arechi on Wednesday 4 January at 12:30 CET. On the eve of the match, Coach Pioli's press conference is scheduled at Milanello, with his comments being broadcast on Milan TV, YouTube and Twitch.

RETURNING TO THE PITCH
"In Salerno we will begin the second half of a unique season, in which there are so many games left, and so it will be important to start well. We finished with a victory before the break but we want to get points on the board right away, because we need a lot to win the league. Our focus is only on our desire, we want to play and our minds are only on this. We have found and recovered important players, in recent weeks we have focused on some tactical scenarios, where we have seen room for improvement".

TOWARDS SALERNO
"I have no doubt about the mental and psychological condition of my team, who are all well both physically and mentally. We will face Salernitana in good condition, and to the best of our ability: we want to take to the pitch with determination, they have put lots of teams in trouble and have a lot more points than last year. I trust my players a lot and I know that we will be able to have a good game. We will leave for Salerno with 23 players, a sufficient number to be able to play the upcoming matches".

GIROUD AND HERNÁNDEZ
"We found them happy to be back, they have got over the disappointment of how the World Cup ended and are now charged up and motivated for the restart in the league. I've congratulated them on their time with the national team, they are both available for the game."

THE LEAGUE RESTART
"We don't have to compete with anyone but ourselves. To win the league we need a lot of points, certainly more than 85. We still have the chance to do better than last year, but we need to do well straight away. We will face a tough opponent and an intimidating atmosphere: we will need concentration, determination and quality."

THE GOALKEEPERS
"We can't force Maignan's recovery, it certainly won't happen soon. He's on his way, but the assessments tell us that it's not possible to push it yet. Tătăruşanu will play against Salernitana. I have great faith in him - as I do in Mirante - he is an experienced goalkeeper. In the friendlies I wanted to give more space and minutes to those who had played less so far'.

THE ATTACKERS
"Giroud didn't play many minutes at the World Cup, and in attack we also have the possibility of using Lazetić and Charles (De Ketelaere). Ante (Rebić) and Origi's injuries aren't long: I know that if there is a chance to intervene the club will be ready. De Ketelaere made a good start in terms of performance after he had not been able to prepare well due to his transfer: I see him growing and I expect improvements'.

THE ROSSONERI'S OBJECTIVES
"We are still in the running in four competitions. If we want to consider ourselves a winning team, we have to try to win something again this year. Last season we made AC Milan history by winning. We are still hungry and now we want to cement our place in history."

RESOLUTIONS FOR 2023
"We have to raise our level more and more. I'm sure we still have wide margins for growth: we are working well, we must have the desire to win every game. If we do our best every day we can raise our level."

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