Stefano Pioli spoke of the ‘beauty’ of his job and unimaginable emotions following Milan’s 1-0 win over Genoa. The Rossoneri won the match in dramatic late fashion as Christian Pulisic found the net in the 87′ minute, shortly before goalkeeper Mike Maignan was sent off. With no substitutions remaining, striker Oliver Giroud went between the sticks and performed some late heroics to secure a victory that puts Milan at the top of the Serie A table.
Speaking post-match, Pioli discussed the incredible end to the game, and why he believes his team are showing important growth in their ability to win games in different ways:
In all your years as a manager, had you ever experienced such an intense endgame?
“This is the beauty of our job, you experience emotions that you don’t even imagine. It was a strange match, very tense and nervous. We struggled but we wanted to win and we believed in it, great credit to my players. We played a lot, sacrificed a lot, we put in a performance to try to win.”
The emotions with Giroud in goal…
“I’d like to think that what Oli did when he put on Mike’s shirt is part of our spirit. It is part of our mentality. The fact of trying to bring home an important victory. He wanted Pulisic to go in goal because he has probably already done it in the past, but I told him there was a free kick and he is small. Afterwards, it went well, it also takes luck. We’ve been lucky in the last few episodes. But I think it’s part of the mentality of a group that wants to give its best, it’s the thing that makes me happiest.”
The reaction after the lost derby…
“I believe that we have always been a team that to win had to play really well and play better than the opponent. Now we can win even dirty games. It’s an important growth, there are also these days and above all there are playing every three days. Let’s be clear, we returned from Dortmund on Thursday, after which on a physical and mental level was the match in which we had the highest physical data of these four years at Milan. It was truly an open-field European match. Winning tonight suffering and struggling against a difficult opponent, to whom we must give great credit. Growth means winning even the games in which you can’t play significantly better than your opponents.”
Pulisic’s goal, controversial…
“VAR would have seen it 3-4 times, if they decided it was a goal then obviously it was right. Then I don’t know and honestly, I don’t even care.”
How do you rate the performance of the new trident?
“In terms of characteristics, I didn’ change that much. These are the positions. I changed to have a team from a mental point of view. We knew it was an intense and difficult match, I preferred to have fresher players from the start, who couldn’t wait to have this situation. I think they did well, then afterwards I repeat there were difficulties, but not for individual performances. I talked a lot with the players who were supposed to come here to Milan, I convinced them by saying that they are important players for me. As long as they demonstrate to me with their attitudes and performances that they can play any match, I will let them play.”
The next important matches, with Juve without Theo and Mike…
“On the yellow card for Theo I didn’t see the foul, I was following the action. He told me that he made a normal foul, the only one of the match… It fits. But let’s talk about the standings again after Juventus and Napoli. It’s sad not to have Mike and Theo, I hope that the break will bring back Kalulu, Loftus, Krunic, and that Jovic will be in an even better condition.”
