PIOLI: "THE TEAM IS READY AND HAS BELIEF"

Here we are, the eve of AC Milan v Juventus; the league is back and the Rossoneri reunite with the San Siro faithful, almost a month after the last home game vs Lazio. As usual the day before the game, Pioli held his press conference, tackling the important questions ahead of this big Serie A match. Here is what he had to say. 

THE PARTY AT MILANELLO
"The break put the excitement from the Genoa game behind us, we met again on Thursday and it was a great day for my birthday. We were all together, the players, staff and managers: they gave me some nice surprises and I like it when we get excited about sharing something. We have our own way and our own energy in approaching matches."

THE EXCITEMENT OF AC MILAN vs JUVENTUS
"It is definitely a big game, at the moment we're ahead and they’re third but the fight for the Scudetto is still very open to four teams; winning would be important for our campaign and our confidence and not about sending Juventus to -7. We have to build on the things that we have done well so far. We are both teams built to win, they have the advantage of only preparing for one match a week." 

MIRANTE'S OPPORTUNITY
"Massive faith in Antonio, he is an expert goalkeeper and very reliable, regarded well by his teammates for his technical and mental qualities. There’s no need to say much. He knows how to read spaces and situations, we will have to do well to give him the right solutions, he is ready to build out of the back with the team." 

LUKA ROMERO AND YACINE ADLI
"Luka is a natural alternative to Pulisic at the moment and I would be very happy to play him in these matches because he is working well and he deserves it. Yacine is a player with a present and a future, he wanted to stay and he deserves everything that is coming his way. He can carve open spaces in this new position. He is an artist, also off the pitch: he plays the piano well, sings, he is charming and now he is charming us on the pitch as well. However, he has to take fewer risks on the ball."

INJURIES
"Kalulu and Krunić are recovering, Loftus-Cheek is better but not quite 100% so he won’t be there, I hope to have him back for the Champions League. We’ve lost Chukwueze and Sportiello unfortunately. We have now had four muscle injuries since the start of the year, during the break we worked to create rhythm and continuity for the players but in the cases of Kalulu (September) and Sportiello, it didn’t go well. I would like to have everyone available, but I know I have players who are ready, who believe and will fight."

JUVE AND SET PIECES
"This is something we considered a lot in the preparation of the match. They are slightly taller than us but that doesn't necessarily mean a disadvantage. We prepared for different situations to face them, with or without Chiesa. He has incredible pace and a good finish: if he were to play, Juve's game would change. In any case, we will have to be as precise as possible and very compact when we don't have the ball."

THE BETTING SCANDAL
"We are shocked and surprised by this situation, our thoughts go out to Sandro but I don't want to judge him for what he may have committed. I would rather judge him for how he can get out of the situation, perhaps becoming an example for someone else. If I can be of any help, I will be by his side."

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