Pioli discusses current Milan team, relationship with Ibrahimovic, Scudetto win and Moreira

Stefano Pioli shared some more insight on his time as AC Milan head coach, including the impact of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Rafael Leao and others.

Pioli was a guest on Sky Calcio Club after Juventus 2-0 Napoli last night, and he revisited the 2021-22 Scudetto win, discussing some of the characteristics of the players, and also drawing comparisons with some current squad members. MilanVibes relayed his words.

Firstly, the coach was asked about if he saw a bit of Rafael Leao in Diego Moreira, given the Belgian was the hero of the derby on Saturday night with one goal and two assists.

“I saw him against Sassuolo too, and he impressed me. He and Rabiot are really strong. Milan played a great match, Maignan made a great save… but with their starting eleven, they’re a really strong team. When Amorim made a few more substitutions, they struggled more.

“It took them a while to get to this point because they had players arriving, probably with some problems, and it takes time to find their rhythm and fitness.

“The results are showing. Modric also still has some important strength. Gonçalo Ramos is doing a great job for the team and is a very good player.”

The discussion about Milan inevitably brought them back to the team that won the league title in 2022. Pioli explained how the playing system was built around the characteristics of the players available, with particular attention to the defensive line and the ability to sustain aggressive football.

“A coach’s skill lies in adapting to a player’s characteristics. At AC Milan, I had players who got lost defending deep. I like that style of play, but it was the best one for those players.

“Kalulu and Tomori also allowed us to take risks. If you want to stay high up the pitch, you need to have significant intensity; anything in between doesn’t work.”

Pioli commented on Leao again, who reached the peak of his powers under the Italian, but also admitted that after the Scudetto not everything went as he would have hoped.

The Scudetto year was devastating. I’ve seen few players of that level. Then he wasn’t, and we weren’t, good. Because when you win, it’s because something special is created in the team. Paolo [Maldini], Ricky [Massara], and I weren’t good – and neither was he – at maintaining and further raising his level.

“He certainly has important qualities. The coach has to understand the players. Rafa is a good player who needs to be encouraged in a certain way.”

During the segment, the background on Roma’s interest also emerged. The Giallorossi contacted Pioli, but at that point the coach had already received an offer from Al Nassr.

“There were times when everyone called me. Even Roma, but I had just received my contract with Al Nassr and I couldn’t break my word.

“I don’t regret going to Saudi Arabia. I wanted to gain experience abroad after my years with AC Milan. The financial aspect and the opportunity to coach Cristiano Ronaldo also played a role.

“If you don’t coach him, you don’t understand how great he is. He’s a champion, obsessed with preparing to score goals. He’s very respectful.”

Pioli spoke about Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Cristiano Ronaldo, two of the biggest profiles that he has had to manage in his career to date.

“Cristiano and Zlatan have a very similar relationship: ‘You’re clear with me and I respect you, if you’re not clear with me, it’s no good.’ I’ve always based our relationship on clarity and sincerity.

“It’s clear that with Zlatan and Cristiano, if you tell them, ‘Look, you’re not playing tomorrow, or you’ll play 60 minutes tomorrow,’ and then I’ll take you off, and you do it or you don’t, it makes a difference.

“I didn’t tell Zlatan something once, but I didn’t tell him because in the rush, I think during the Covid period, we were playing every three days. At the end of the first half it was 0-0, then in 10 minutes we scored 2-3 goals, I don’t remember now…

“Anyway, I made three substitutions: I remember Zlatan, Calhanoglu, and another. So quick, but I hadn’t told Zlatan in advance… The next day [laughs]. he came to me… The good thing about Zlatan is that as soon as he gets over it, the next day it’s as if nothing had happened.

When asked if Ibrahimovic frequently sulked, Pioli replied: “No, absolutely not. He’s great. But does he tell you? Yes, yes, and then with a tone…

“I always leave my office door open because I like to greet the players and see them. In fact, I had the office changed because I wanted it to be between the locker room and physiotherapy, which they have to go to every day anyway, so every day I greeted all the players, and they came in to see me.

“Every now and then I stopped them, but I didn’t stop them. That day, I didn’t expect Zlatan to come in. He came in and said, ‘I’ll speak today.’ You know, those chairs that move around, I danced for 2-3 minutes, but then it went away.”

Pioli also recalled his first meeting with the Swede, who arrived at Milanello at the end of January 2020 and undoubtedly played a key role in the resurgence.

“Ibrahimovic arrived at Milanello the first day. I waited for him there, and he arrived when it was dark. It was January, the end of January. I followed him in his training, but he also had a knee problem.

“He did a bit of treadmill work, then he came to my office, spoke to me a bit, and I explained to him how I wanted to use him on the pitch, technically and tactically. He said to me: ‘You’re the coach, I’m the player. You respect me, I’ll respect you.’ And that’s what happened.”

Pioli also spoke about the relationship between results and the team, explaining why it’s often more difficult for a coach to put a defeat behind him than to enjoy a victory.

“We coaches don’t enjoy victories because we immediately think about the next game. Defeat, however, stays with you. But what happened to me at Milan was incredibly emotional. Sackings, on the other hand, are difficult; you feel guilty.

“The one in Florence was even more difficult. I had returned with so much willpower and energy. I had returned with so much confidence, and it was a tough blow.”

Finally, a revelation about the possibility of becoming Italy’s coach. Pioli confirmed that he had been close to taking over the national team, but without going into details.

“I’ve touched on it, but not for very long. In our careers, we are the product of all the choices we make. Some are good, some aren’t.”