Pioli: "Mourinho Is A Great Coach, Roma Will Be Difficult But We Will Continue To Work Like We Do"

Written by Dare Solomon

AC Milan play another grueling match against Roma at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday with the aim of going to the top of the table.

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The Giallorossi under Jose Mourinho have maintained their position among the top teams on the table despite their inconsistency. But playing against AC Milan who remain unbeaten all season with just a draw, Roma will surely have their work cut out.

However, Stefano Pioli believes playing at the capital against Roma who are yet to be defeated at home is a tall order.

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“Roma are one of the few sides unbeaten at home and the only team to have stopped Napoli up to this point.

“They’re a strong side and second to none in terms of quality, while they also have great character. They’re good in dead-ball situations; we’ve also prepared in this regard.

“A big match in a difficult setting awaits, but we’re ready. We’ll need to try to be precise in our play and composed in the choices we make.” The former Lazio coach explained.

Pioli faces Jose Mourinho for the first time in his career but the Milan trainer speaks highly of the Portuguese and was quick to say the battle isn’t about them.

“He’s a great coach who has enjoyed success everywhere. He’s excellent at building a mentality with his teams. But it won’t be Mourinho versus Pioli; it’ll be Roma versus AC Milan.

“Every match is a test, and the one against Roma will be difficult. We must continue to have hunger, work like we’re currently doing and approach every game as if it were the last, trying to win whenever we take to the pitch.”

Meanwhile…

AC Milan will welcome back Ibrahim Diaz, the Spanish midfielder of the Rossoneri who has been a replacement for Turkish international, Hakan Calhanoglu. However, Pioli is not ready to risk Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Olivier Giroud, at least, not from the start.

“Díaz is doing much better. He got back into shape during the week, almost training in full. I’ll think about how I will use him tomorrow. Hernández will start, while Ballo-Touré is also fit.

“Ibrahimović and Giroud’s conditions are improving, even if they’re still not in optimal shape. One of them will start. Leão is doing well; he’s a player that expends a lot of energy on the pitch.”

The Swedish legend could score his 400th goal in top-flight football over his entire career; the first was on 30 October 1999, when 15% of the current players with at least one appearance in Serie A this season were not yet born (74 out of 489).

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