Pioli: “Big disappointment about elimination, important for entering the Champions League”

Milan find themselves in a particularly awkward position after being eliminated from the Champions League final and qualifying from Inter at their own expense (with two wins for the compatriots who have four wins in as many games against the Rossoneri in 2023), whatever the season, it’s not over yet.

That was the clear message from Stefano Pioli at the press conference on Friday before the league game against Sampdoria on Saturday (May 20, 9:45 p.m., COSMOTE SPORT 1 HD, LIVE on Sportish).with the Rossoneri coach stressing that the fund was finally covered and that his team must exploit every opportunity to clinch a place in the top four in Serie A.

“We are behind in the league compared to where we would like to be, we need focus. Of course we want to win all three remaining games, Saturday is the first against Sampdoria and we will have the opportunity to show who we are.

Luckily the season didn’t end after the derby.” First of all, to add regarding the climate currently prevailing in the Milan camp, the veteran coach stressed:

“It’s lucky that we’re playing right away, it was a big disappointment because we really wanted to go to the final. We have to react as a big team. The goal is to return to the Champions League and so will the results.” To be in the final because the top four is an important goal for us.

Asked if he feels his team has been beaten by Inter this year (“There is a distance to Inter, we are not made for two competitions”was the comment of technical director Paolo Maldini at the end of the rematch between the two teams), he was categorical:

“The first half of the two games made the difference. In the first game we conceded two goals within a few minutes, in the second leg we didn’t manage to score goals in the phases that we had.” That was our disadvantage. We have to look ahead.”