PIOLI: "WE AREN'T SCARED, WE WILL PLAY TO WIN"

The league starts back up with a bang after the international break: it’s already time for the derby. The Rossoneri are rapidly approaching the match against Inter on matchday 4 of the Serie A season, scheduled as a home game for the Nerazzurri. Stefano Pioli spoke on all topics related to the match in a press conference at Milanello on the eve of the game.

AWARENESS OF THE DERBY
"It’s early in the championship, we’ve started well and we want to continue in this way, keeping our heads screwed on. I am convinced about how the team have prepared and want to approach the match, we know how we want to play but we’ll see how the match is played and carried out. I’m not interested in previous Derbys, Saturday’s is the one that counts, it’s an opportunity to make the most of and I want my players to think they can win it."

INDIVIDUALS
"Kjær is ready to play such an important match, he’s strong and he has a great personality. There is only one Zlatan but the team has grown to working in a certain way, we have players in the dressing room with great personalities and Giroud is one of these. Rafa has grown a lot, he is becoming dominant and determined for the team.  And that is what he must try to do on the pitch against Inter as well. Pellegrino is a very careful, disciplined defender, he can also play full-back, he needs to grow and over time he will contribute a lot to us."

THE APPROACH
"I want to see the AC Milan, I want to see the team follow our principles of play and what we have prepared, I’m sure that they’ll face the match with the right spirit, with enthusiasm and with heart. Against Inter but also throughout the entire season. We aren’t scared of anyone. I have seen focus and calmness, I like the way the newcomers approach the work and work with each other; they are calm and smiling and I believe this is the right way to approach this challenge."

THOUGHTS ON INTER
"Inter are the only team to have managed to hold their own against Manchester City, we know we are facing a strong team. They haven’t changed their style of play much in these first few matches, they’ll try to put us in difficult positions. We will be taking to the pitch to play good football and do better than them. The performance will give us some indications of what we need to work on, some good, some maybe less so."

A NEW AC MILAN
"Cardinale's interest in us makes us very happy, we're trying to develop everyone within this group. In these first few games, we have given off good signs and shown the path that we want to continue down. We’re trying to manage the game more and understand the different phases, the objective is to become a more dominant team during the match."

PHYSICAL PREPARATION
"Year after year, we try to improve the individual preparation of each player as we get to know them more. A new season is starting now, seven matches in 21 days so I will have to manage the performances of my players well." 

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