Pioli discusses external pressures, ‘lightning rod’ tag and finishing the season well

AC Milan head coach Stefano Pioli has insisted that he and the team are simply focused on finishing the season in the best possible way amid external noise about his future and fan protests.

As the season draws towards its conclusion, Pioli’s time at Milan appears to be coming to a close too and it is in far from ideal circumstances. The Rossoneri have gone six games without a win, and the only thing left to fight for is second place.

On Saturday night Cagliari arrive at San Siro fighting to remain in the top flight, knowing that one more win might be enough to seal their Serie A status for another year, so they will be very much fired up for it.

Pioli spoke to reporters present at Milanello on the eve of the game for his pre-match press conference, and his comments were transcribed by MilanNews.

Mister all of us, all the fans really want to see Milan win again after the home match against Genoa. Will we do it tomorrow?

“It’s like this. It’s what we want too, for many reasons, because the period in which we have gone without a victory is too long. Because I believe that second place is an important objective in any case and is not completely achieved, and therefore because we are professionals, out of pride and respect for our club, for our fans and all the motivations that go into this match.”

A couple of curiosities, the first going back a few days: Florenzi’s interview was very nice. Speaking about your work he often said that you seemed to be almost a lightning rod for the team, you took too much criticism, and that only those who know you well know how much you are suffering in this period. So I ask you, do you want to tell us something more, if you want to make public how you are feeling after the recent period?

“The only thing that would bother me – and nothing bothers me anymore – is if the team didn’t have the right motivation to finish the season well. This is the only thing I care about and am worried about.

“How I am doesn’t count, in the sense that I’m focused on these last matches, then at the end of the season I’ll meet the club and we’ll decide what our future will be. But I believe that in the figure of the coach, my role also includes being a lightning rod, protecting the team, protecting the club because the responsibilities are all there and this has never been a problem for me.”

Is the team ready for this season finale? And then Giroud, Jovic, can you give us some indication, who is better?

“The team is doing well. It’s clear that we are at the end of a long, demanding and complicated season, and there may be those who have a little more energy, those who have a little less, those who are a little better, some a little less, so I will try to choose those players who I believe have the energy, the best possible condition to try to put on a fair match, with quality concentration to try to win tomorrow’s match.”