Milan coach: 'Nothing is impossible in the Champions League'
In the second leg of the 1/8 round at Tottenham, the two teams drew 0-0. Milan thus reached the quarterfinals with a final score of 1-0.
When asked about the possibility of winning the Champions League, coach Pioli replied: "I like to think that nothing is impossible in sport. Obviously, the tournament only has the best teams left and each round becomes more and more interesting. However, I'm sure all the experiences in Europe, especially the negative ones, will help us move up a notch. trust and confidence".
Meanwhile, striker Olivier Giroud was more realistic: "Last season, I told my teammates that we deserve to be in the Champions League. And this season, we want to go further."
In more than 90 minutes in London yesterday, Milan equals Tottenham. Harry Kane almost headed into the net Milan, but Divock Origi also headed home Tottenham. "We played well," said Pioli. "We never let go. It was a well deserved spot considering the way we played in both games."
Giroud was also proud of the place he considered deserved, and even regretted that Milan "should have won with the opportunities created".
This is only the first time in 11 years that Milan have reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League, since the last time in 2012. They have come a long way from last season, when they finished fourth in the group containing Liverpool, Atletico and FC Porto. If they win this season, Milan will add an eighth title to the table.
Milan's momentum in the European arena is somewhat contrasted with Serie A. In the domestic tournament, Pioli's teachers and students are ranked fifth. They have the same 47 points after 25 rounds, but the difference is behind the fourth-placed team Roma. "We need to take it step by step," emphasized Pioli. "At the start of the season it's important to get through the Champions League group stage and improve compared to last season. Now we'll wait for the draw and see what happens. We also need to focus back on Serie. A".
In early 2023, Milan went through five consecutive matches without winning in Serie A, two of which were defeats to Lazio 0-4 and Sassuolo 2-5. Things only went smoother after Pioli switched to a tactical scheme to three central defenders. "I decided to change after a heavy defeat against Sassuolo," Pioli said. "It seems the old system doesn't work anymore. The problem is not just the different positions, but the attitude of the team. The players have worked harder."
