The manager of the last scudetto won by the Rossoneri speaks to the Italian press in Riyadh and launches Conceiçao: “He made an excellent impression on me at Porto, he has all the credentials”
Stefano Pioli is still in love with Milan. He has begun a new phase of life and is at peace with himself, but just look at him when he answers questions from Italian journalists in Riyadh: he gets emotional, you understand that the good memories are mixed with the sorrow (shall we say the pain?) of the Goodbye. “I saw little of Milan, at the beginning of the season I didn’t like it. It was difficult for me to see it, so I saw very little of it. What if I miss Milan? Yes and no. I can’t think too much about the past. It’s a top club, leave it It wasn’t easy but I’m fine where I am, I’m working hard. If I look back, I miss it though… let’s look forward.”
conceiçao and ibra
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Pioli has experienced special days this week. He saw many of his players again, he returned to the center of the stage, he was at the stadium to see his former team. “For the semi-final I had seats above the Milan bench, it almost felt like I was coaching,” he says jokingly. And then, more seriously: “Respect, sharing, loving each other was important for us and this will remain forever, even if we have other emotions. Olivier Giroud also called me because he saw the photos. They were five full years of emotions and I wish Milan the best, in the most absolute way, for what we have experienced together, for San Siro and the fans. I believe that Ibrahimovic is a very intelligent person, he will work for the best of Milan.” Pioli also talks about Conceiçao and yes, he approves of the choice: “It’s always difficult to play against Conceiçao’s teams. He made an excellent impression on me at Porto, he has a clear mentality, he has all the cards in order.”
ronaldo and arabia
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Pioli, on the other hand, is doing well in Arabia, even if he won’t win the championship, even if Italy is far away. For the future, he has thoughts about the Premier League and a clear desire: “To coach the national team? I would like it, very much. I must say that now I like to coach every day but in the future yes, I would love to coach Italy”. And then, while waiting for that future, he thinks of Al Nassr, among new players, new strengths and weaknesses, old adversaries who have become friends: “I always thought that Brozovic was strong, he’s as mad as a horse but in a positive sense. Ronaldo? His role goes beyond football, he will remain in history. He takes care of his body obsessively, he is very helpful. I have been lucky enough to coach some champions and Cristiano is at the top of this list.”
san siro and the future
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The impression is that both will remain in Arabia until June and perhaps even beyond, until summer 2026: “In Riyadh there are a lot of AC Milan fans, I am recognized almost more than in Milan, even in the desert they tell me “on fire, thank you you”. They are growing a lot here, the 2034 World Cup will help, there will certainly be beautiful stadiums, perhaps like nowhere else. Everyone watches the matches, even if they explained to me that traditionally they see each other more at home, with the family or to the restaurant, which to the stadium”. And here we understand: he misses San Siro more than anything.
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