Milan vs. Juventus: Stefano Pioli’s Parable and the Future Farewell

This Juventus-Milan is not just a game, it is the parable of Stefano Pioli’s fifth season on the Devil’s bench: a group back he and his boys welcomed the Bianconeri to the San Siro as league leaders alone ; The 5-1 in September’s derby seemed a blow to be overcome thanks to the succession of results that launched Milan to the top of the table, the Champions League round of 16 was still very much in their favour. – within reach. A completely different movie. Today Milan is out of the cups, hurt by the elimination of the Europa League by Roma and by another lost derby, the one that delivered the scudetto and the star to Inter, 17 points on go away. Pioli lost contact with his bench just when it seemed to be growing: tomorrow, for the ratings, he will be third against the second, but above all it is this is the first stage of the long farewell that will take place at the end of time. the tree “They were ten delicate days, difficult for everyone, and that is why we have to win again tomorrow,” explained Pioli. Then he looks at the personal moment: “Are these the most difficult days I’ve had since I coached Milan? In these almost five years there has been no middle ground. Either very positive times or very negative times. I can’t say if this is the most negative, but it is the closest and therefore the worst. If I could change the outcome of the derbies I would give everything I have, but it can’t be done anymore. I have to have broad shoulders, understand that it is part of my game and my job. We have to show who we are until the end.”

with them and the others

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At the central stadium it will be Adli’s turn: “Bennacer is not at his best and Yacine is very careful in the defensive level, from this point of view he is the most reliable”. With Calabria and Theo suspended, the captain’s armband will be kept tight on Leao’s arm, a symbol of Milan’s lack of leadership seen in recent games: “Rafa is getting to know him like his teammates team and like all of us – says Pioli -. It was a great pain to lose the derby and see our rivals celebrating. We just have to respond with the next games. We cannot stop at the disappointments suffered and given to the fans, we need pride and loyalty until the end. The aim is to win them all, tomorrow we have to fight as if it were the last game. I want Milan close, to overcome an opponent who is doing well, we have to defend second place. ” It is all too easy to recognize the decisive factor in the state of mind of the Rossoneri at the moment: “The exit from the Europa League and that month where we broke away from Inter was certain. Inter is stronger, continuous, strong and we have not been able to maintain his level but we are not the only ones: for 4 years Inter has had the strongest team and they have won only two championships , we never had the strongest team but we fought. for the top and mentally we gave everything. What if there is a lack of balance? We are waiting for the end of the season and we will make all the assessments.”

Z factor

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Closing on Ibra: “He is always close to us and tries to give us the most support to overcome the moment. We win together, we lose together, we suffer together. Zlatan loves Milan and he will make decisions for the good of Milan.”