Pioli: “Milan as Champions, we can eliminate Roma”. Leao: “Criticism doesn’t bother me”

Go through to win the only international trophy, theEuropa League, which is missing from its history. The goal of Milan Of Stefano Pioli it’s clear, but the Rossoneri will have to overturn the 0-1 deficit they suffered in the first leg Roma Of Daniele De Rossi. A match that represents a fundamental crossroads, a turning point not only of the season but which, together with next Monday’s derby, could write the coach’s future.

Pioli: “We can beat Roma”

The Rossoneri coach must erase the dull performance of the first leg, symbol of an alternating current season in which Milan experienced “on fire” days and decidedly less exciting moments. Pioli, however, is convinced that the Rossoneri will play their chances of going through at the Olimpico. “I have faith in the team because they have the means to win. To win we have to defend well, suffer when we have to. I coach a mature and responsible team, they know how to interpret these matches. A match not as exceptional as the first leg He didn’t take anything away from us. We have to play it and win it.”

Pioli: “We are the same as in the Champions League semi-final”

Pioli then responds to De Rossi, who had spoken of a last resort: “Yes, as regards tomorrow’s match and to be able to go to the semi-final, it is. But we will play the Champions League next year and tomorrow we will do our best There will always be criticism, we are the same ones who went to the Champions League semi-finals.”

Leao: “We are Milan, it’s normal to receive criticism”

What will tip the scales in favor of the Rossoneri will have to be the talent of Rafael Leao, a Rossoneri star who has been criticized in recent outings and is ready to lead his team towards what could be the fiftieth trophy in Rossoneri history, to be raised under the Dublin sky on May 22nd. The Portuguese, for his part, does not hide himself by admitting that the match at the Olimpico is like “a final. We play for Milan; if we do well, we footballers, the coach and everyone who works here are happy. We have the aim of winning this competition and if we succeed we are all happy. It works like this at Milan, our fans want to win. Nothing challenge with Paulo Dybalahowever, because “we are both strong. He is very strong, I like him, it gives me joy to see him play because he does different things. In modern football there are few of him, he is a nice person, after the match he gave me his shirt and many advice”.

Milan’s lineup against Roma

An inside or outside match in which Pioli will have no margin for error. This is also why our minds can’t yet turn to the derby and the desire to postpone Inter’s Scudetto celebration; no rotations, therefore, the best ones will go on the pitch with Maignan to get the door back after the exclusion against Sassuolo as a precaution, and a defense in which the only run-off remains the one between Cage e Thiaw on who he will support Tomori. Bennacer e Reijnders in the middle is the trio Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek e Lion to assist Giroud. The classic Milan, therefore, for Pioli who hopes to find one of the great European nights so as not to say goodbye too soon to the dream of winning his first trophy – as a coach – outside the Italian borders.