Milan, Pioli: “To compete with Napoli we have to raise the level. With Roma I want enthusiasm. Ibra is about to return”

MILAN – “I don’t think that much can be changed in one match, we’re not there to count the points behind Napoli. To try and win back the Scudetto we need to score a lot of points and raise our level. Milan was a great opportunity for me. As long as I can I will play it to the fullest”. Stefano Pioli he doesn’t make tables but he knows that if they want to put pressure on Napoli, Milan will be able to make little mistakes from now on. Starting with the match against Roma: “They’re a strong and well-structured, complete team. They combine good play construction with physicality, they beat Inter and we’ll respect them a lot. Then there’s us with all our will. We’ll be back at San Siro after 50 days and we will do it with enthusiasm and energy”.

Giroud will be at the center of the attack: “He’s doing very well mentally and physically. In the immediate future I don’t see any difficulties. The next 8 weeks will be demanding, there will be a need for ready players and I’m seeing positive attitudes from my players. We’ll face the next stages with concentration but always with attention to the next one, we want to be competitive in all the competitions that await us”, explained Pioli who added on not being able to close the matches: “We can do better, we know how important it is to unblock the matches, we are among the teams that score more at the start of the match, I still think it’s important to keep creating many goal opportunities. For the quality of my players, you have to score a few more goals.”

Then the coach dwells on the singles starting with the hitherto unfinished De Ketelaere: “Charles is fine, ready from a physical and mental point of view. I rely heavily on him. Tomorrow we will be the same as Salerno, I hope to recover someone in view of the match Italian Cup”. Prudence on Leao’s renewal: “It’s a very hot period because he has to keep playing well. For renewal, you don’t need to ask me but other people. We don’t talk about the contract with the boy, we talk about the pitch, tomorrow’s match. He knows he has to continue like this , has the ability to be decisive in all matches.”

Finally Ibrahimovic, close to returning: “He’ll go back to work next week, as foreseen by his work schedule and by the surgeon who operated on him. We’ll see from there.”