23.10 – Bitter evening for Stephen Pioli, AC Milan coach who comments on the defeat suffered in the derby in the press conference. Live text by TMW.
23.24 – Here is Pioli.
He has already explained that he left Leao out from the start. He is the best of the team, in retrospect would he make the same choice again?
“No, I’d do it again. I made the choices I thought were best, Origi had to work vertically with Giroud to cover the Calhanoglu area. I don’t think it was Origi’s fault but too much frenzy, we had to try to climb more with the team’s center of gravity and we missed too many balls”.
What should be the goal, given the standings?
“We have to do better and we have to finish in the top four. We have to score points from Friday.”
Is the 3-5-2 a formation that you could bring back from the start of the game?
“In the next few days, a three-man defense for sure, then how we develop the offensive phase will depend”.
Yesterday he said you couldn’t play for a draw, then the attitude seemed so defensive. Why?
“The game plan was to wait for Inter in our own half, which we did quite well, but then once we got the ball we attacked and didn’t succeed.”
How does it feel to see fans, who have glorified you in the past, being so critical these days?
“The fans have every right to criticize, the last few performances haven’t been up to par. Everything I’ve gained has been through passion, work and ideas.”
Is there an idea of going back to 4-2-3-1 or is this the new Milan?
“Right now I think it’s good to try to be a team and I don’t think it depends on the game system.”
Has Milan lost the desire to amaze?
“We are certainly a little heavier mentally, less light-hearted and less enthusiastic. Yes. And it shows… But we have to be strong, understand that these moments are overcome with great confidence, will and determination. We’ll have the next chance we have in a few days”.
23.32 – Pioli’s press conference concluded.
