Milan-Roma, Pioli's charge: "We want to demonstrate that we are competitive in Italy and Europe"

Milan, 10 April 2024 – Countdown to Milan-Roma, first leg of the quarter-finals of Europa League scheduled for Thursday evening, at 21pm, at San Siro. Pioli recovered Thiaw, absent in the championship against Lecce due to plantar fasciitis and returned to the group yesterday. The German thus enters the run-off with Kjær to replace Tumor, absent due to disqualification. “I will decide based on the characteristics of the opposing attackers, they start on the same level”, the words of the Rossoneri coach during the pre-match press conference. He also spoke Ismael Bennacer, ready to support Reijnders in the heart of midfield: "Compared to the team that won the scudetto, in my opinion, this is stronger."

Milan arrives at Thursday evening's match with one open streak of 7 consecutive victories between championship and cup: after the collapse in Monza, he never stopped in Italy and Europe. Pioli knows this well, just as he knows that a good chunk of football will be played in 12 days future: in addition to the double match against Roma (in between the away match on Sunday at the Sassuolo), the Derby. First of all, however, head to the Giallorossi. “We rightly still play the first leg at home: we did very well against Rennes and Slavia to take a good advantage. We will try to do it this time too, knowing however that there are 180 minutes to play." On Roma: "De Rossi will put the best team, they come from a derby win and with him they have practically only lost against Inter."

The differences compared to its predecessor, Mourinho: “He changed his approach, positions, way of defending and attacking. He's doing a good job: the most important thing for a coach is to be credible and get 100 percent availability from the players. With him these things are there and it shows. I don't know what choices he will make, many teams play differently knowing the qualities of our attackers. But I think it will be a game between two offensive teams."

Pioli also spoke about the differences between this Milan and that of the Scudetto: “We have changed our approach. The one in the past had an incredible victory, this one is trying to win again. We are in a good moment, but the most important moment is the one that is coming: we must demonstrate that the journey, through ups and downs, has still improved us."

On the spectacular Champions League challenges seen on Tuesday: “Fantastic technical level, but also important errors. But they continued to play, aware and with confidence: I pointed this out to my parents. We can't think of neutralizing Roma completely, but we shouldn't worry if in some situation they will get the better of them or we will concede goals. We know we expose ourselves to risks: we are dedicated to building and playing attacking football."

Still on the level seen in the Champions League: “We reached the semi-finals last year, we were there... But we didn't get there in the best condition and we faced an opponent who proved to be superior. We are not far from that level: this year we exited the Champions League, in the only group that still has two teams in the quarterfinals. We play modern football, with pace, intensity, unpredictable in positions and plays. We want to demonstrate that we are competitive in Italy and Europe"

Probable lineups

AC Milan (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Calabria, Thiaw, Gabbia, Theo Hernandez; Bennacer, Reijnders; Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, Leao; Giroud. All. Pioli.

Rome (4-3-3): Svilar; Celik, Mancini, Llorente, Spinazzola; Cristante, Paredes, Pellegrini; Dybala, Lukaku, El Shaarawy. All. De Rossi.

Referee: Turpin (France).

Clockwise: 21 hours.

Tv: Rai, Sky, Dazn