Live TMW
Stefano Piolicoach in his last match on the AC Milan bench, was present in the press conference after the draw against Salernitana and the San Siro salute dedicated to him.
Follow Pioli’s statements live with the live text on TMW.
Pioli brought his staff to the conference…
“I thank my staff: they did a great job. On the outside I seem more balanced than I actually am.”
What will make you most proud?
“Two: the relationship we have built over these five years with the players; I told the team that this year was a special moment, because, when everyone was criticizing, they reached out to me and we came out of it. And then the emotions that the fans made me experience here at San Siro. 25 years ago I started coaching, not even in my most beautiful dream could I think of experiencing certain emotions.”
What does he bring with him?
“Milan is a prestigious club, the top; I have interacted with excellent personalities and I will take everything away: I will come away from this experience more complete.”
What identikit of a club are you looking for?
“There is no identikit: I hope to find situations, people, presidents, in which I feel that something special can be done, which doesn’t just mean being able to win, but means getting excited, improving the players, achieve important results. But I don’t know: I was too careful not to be distracted by anything out of respect and gratitude towards Milan; up to now I haven’t listened to anyone, then in the next 15 days if anyone wants to meet me they will be available. The Premier League stimulates me, but I don’t know if it will be possible.”
TMW – His 5 years can be summed up with “I threw my huge heart out into the stars, I swear I will.”
“We threw everything away. The relationship with the players, the tears of these days, everything, certifies what we have built. We gave everything and received a lot. I like balanced, equal relationships: I received a lot, I gave a lot”.
Which Pioli are you?
“I arrived when I was Pioli out, then Pioli is on fire, then Pioli something else… I left here with a heart full of joy. I won’t stop today, but if it were to be like this I can say I achieved what I dreamed of. But I still feel ready to do something special.”
Is it always worth it?
“I don’t do anything to get a return, I try to be clear and direct with my players; I say certain things in my office and not elsewhere. To be credible you have to be yourself.”
Cycle over?
“The right time has come to separate. In Europe we could have done better, in the championship we are second.”
Is there any advice you can give to your successor?
“No. No because when I go to coach a new team I never called the previous coach.”
And any advice to society?
“I don’t give it away, these are things I can no longer influence. Milan are once again ambitious, wanting to win: the club will know how to do things to win again.”
Too much criticism?
“An environment here is like this, both positive and negative. Then everything is part of the game. The higher you go, the more expectations and pressure there are. I definitely come away from this experience more structured.”
What is the mission that satisfied you the most?
“I remember a match against Atalanta in Bergamo: on a tactical and strategic level, as we understand football, beautiful. Then we always tried to give the players solutions.”
Pioli’s conference ends here.