AC Milan boss Stefano Pioli was pleased with what he saw from his players in our 2-1 win over Salernitana on Wednesday.
The Rossoneri took a 2-0 lead after just 15 minutes, but after missing several chances to put the game away, we faced a tricky end to the encounter after the hosts reduced their deficit.
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Fortunately, we were able to hold out for the victory, and so naturally, Pioli was delighted to secure all three points in our first game back following the World Cup break.
That win temporarily moves us to within five points of Napoli at the top of the Serie A table, and so the Milan boss knows just how important it is we continue to put pressure on our Scudetto rivals.
Pioli on Milan performance vs Salernitana
“I’m satisfied with the performance,” he told DAZN, as per MilanNews. “Of course we could have scored more goals and thus we would have suffered less, but it was important to start off well. I got the answers I wanted and who I expected because I know my boys well.
“We were good at reading the spaces and so we were able to create a lot. We suffered in the final stages, but we were good at bringing home the three points. We wanted to restart with a victory, that was our goal. Now we can prepare ourselves as best as possible for Roma.”
Pioli on Leao’s future, De Ketelaere search for form
Meanwhile, Pioli was also asked about Leao amid ongoing speculation over his future at the club. Unsurprisingly, he was unequivocal in his response in that the Portuguese international should stay with us and continue to be at the centre of our plans for success, and he hasn’t seen anything from the player himself to suggest he thinks otherwise.
“What I see in Leao is the happiness of being with us, I keep repeating to him that his growth path here is not over,” he told Sky Sport Italia, as reported by MilanNews. “What I see in Rafa is definitely positive. Today he played a great game, and I’m not just talking about technique and quality, but with an attitude that must always be like this. Playing like this he will always become a champion.
“Today he is a great player with great potential, today he has shown that he can do more and can be a champion. He worked continuously in the defensive phase, he attacked deep with great continuity. He is a very intelligent and helpful boy, he has always believed in it and has always worked. He doesn’t need my advice but my advice is to stay with us because it feels good.”
Pioli also made an excellent point as part of a wider response on Charles De Ketelaere, who has struggled to settle in a Milan shirt thus far and showcase his undeniable talent and ability.
Importantly, he came on and made a positive contribution as he could have got himself on the scoresheet, which would have been a major boost in confidence for him. While he wasn’t able to convert, it’s crucial that he continues to get into the right positions to have those opportunities, and eventually they will start going in for him.
“Today I liked how he entered the game and how he moved,” he added. “I think physically he’s better than in the summer which was a bit troubled. He could have been a little luckier in his attempts but I’m sure of his qualities.
“I don’t want to repeat the same things over and over again but he’s only been with us for four months, a 20-year-old boy who has changed everything, working method, companions, life. Let me give a trivial example, that of Tonali who is an Italian who moved from Brescia to Milan, not from Belgium to Milan, and how long it took him to be more aware and become the player he is becoming. Charles is growing and will soon give us satisfaction.”
Pioli is spot on with his assessment, and there is confidence that – like he has done with several other young players who have worked under him at Milan – he’ll be able to get the best out of De Ketelaere in time.
The Belgian international will be a key member of the squad for us in the coming weeks and months as we look to compete on multiple fronts, and so this was a positive start to the New Year for him, and it’s hoped that he can build on that when he’s next involved.
It’s understandable why there would be frustration from some quarters that we’ve not seen it click for him yet, but evidently Pioli and Milan have a firm belief that things will fall into place for him eventually.
