2 months ago
58
Stefano Pioli is certain that he will find a turning point at Fiorentina, but was angry with the officiating in their loss to AC Milan.
Milan were made to work very hard to get three points and top spot against a Fiorentina side that are still searching for their first league win. After a rather dull opening first half, Robin Gosens silenced the home fans with a goal from close range.
However, the man that Pioli knows so well – Rafael Leao – then stepped up to the plate. He responded to the opener just minutes later, curling in a shot from the edge of the box, and then he converted a controversial penalty in the final 10 minutes to complete the comeback and seal a 2-1 win.
‘It wasn’t Pioli’s Milan’
Pioli spoke to DAZN and at a post-match press conference following the final whistle and he tried to pick apart what was another difficult night for his side despite being in a good position. MilanNews transcribed his words.
What did you say to the referee at the end?
“I told him what I thought, that in my opinion it wasn’t a penalty and that these situations aren’t good. So we encourage the players to throw their hands in their faces and fall to the ground. Even outside the penalty area. Hands in their faces and the whistle always blows.
“But the fact remains that we’re last and we’ve lost again. We have to try to do better. We did what we had to, suffering when we had to. Incidents continue to punish us. Even with the first goal, we weren’t lucky, we were down to 10 men, and it disunited us. We have to do better.”
You remain in the bottom three…
“We have to be realistic. We’re last and we have to be worried. But despite all the beatings we’re taking, I see a group that believes in us and I’m sure we’ll get through this. It will take longer than we thought, but we’ll get through this with confidence.”
Your job though remains safe…
“This is the fourth time we’ve gone ahead and failed to get a positive result. But my disappointment goes to the club, to the fans who believe so much in my work. We’ll do everything we can to get out of this situation, limiting our mistakes as much as possible, even if they were truly minimal today.”
Is there anything you saw today that was better?
“For me, we’ve always improved, except against Napoli. Milan are top of the table, they were missing key players, but I don’t think that much difference was seen on the pitch. We can’t be bottom of the table. But results count.
“Of course, we lose, we lose, but I recognise in the group the will, strength, and spirit that will allow us to emerge from this difficult moment. Then the negative results and the blame must be shared among everyone.
“In this case, I believe the primary culprit is absolutely me and the players who take to the field, not Pradè or the management. It’s difficult to explain such negative results.”
Did you say something to Gimenez?
“Yes, yes, but I was fired up, nothing special.”
What kind of game was it?
“Milan are positioned at the back and give very little away, so it’s not just our lack of quality. It’s the mental aspect that always makes the difference. I still see the glass half full.
“I’m really disappointed about our position, but we didn’t go onto the pitch thinking, ‘Oh my God, oh my God, I don’t know how to play this game’.”
Pioli’s Milan also started with difficult months and unusual incidents, then there was a switch. Can you find that switch again in Florence too?
“No, it wasn’t Pioli’s Milan, but the Milan of Ibra, Maldini, Massara, Theo, Leao… I think I’ll find the switch here too, I’m sure of it.”
English (US) ·