Pioli discusses time at Milan, Leao and Theo, De Ketelaere, Conceicao and arguments | OneFootball

Stefano Pioli has spoken once again about his time with AC Milan, recalling the famous chant that circulated during the Scudetto season.

Pioli joined Milan during the 2019-20 season and went on an almost five-year journey with the club despite originally being hired as an interim of sorts. With results and an entertaining style of play, he forced the directors to abandon the idea of hiring Ralf Rangnick to replace him.

Everything culminated in the 2021-22 Scudetto-winning season, ending the 11-year wait for a league title, but at the end of the last campaign the decision was made to move on. Thus the Rossoneri turned to Paulo Fonseca, who didn’t last long before being replaced by Sergio Conceicao.

Pioli had the opportunity to meet the squad again in Riyadh where he now lives and coaches Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr and where Milan played and won the Supercoppa Italiana.

Radio Serie A interviewed him and he spoke about his time with the Rossoneri and the memories that it left him with, with his comments relayed by MilanNews.

What led you to this new opportunity?

“As soon as I left Milan I had opportunities in Italy and France, but Saudi Arabia won me over with motivations, including economic ones. I wanted to try something different after 20 years in Italy.

“I will definitely return. I liked the way they contacted me, they were super professional. I have always chosen based on the feelings I had in the interviews. In football everything changes quickly.”

You are among the 8 coaches who led both Inter and Milan…

“If they had told me that we would have done everything we did… I am not looking back, I am thinking about the future. One day I will look at what I have done, between Milan’s Scudetto and the various salvations.

“And now I am in Riyadh. In a journey there are many negative situations, even if you think you are working with criteria and seriousness. Sometimes there is perfect chemistry, other times the relationships quickly collapse.”

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Theo Hernandez and Rafael Leao are among the most used players in your career…

“Theo and Leao are special because we grew up together. I love them dearly, they have a sunny disposition, sometimes a little indolent. They are two players who can influence the game in a positive or negative way. I met Rafa when he was very young, Theo already had experience.

“Helping them doesn’t mean pampering them, but giving them the carrot and stick. I feel like the footballing father of all the players I’ve had. For me and my staff, the goal is to ask ourselves ‘how many players have grown up with us?’. To improve the player, there’s more than just the pitch.”

Who didn’t manage to develop?

“I think it’s more the players who have improved than anything else. Now everyone’s talking about De Ketelaere, but I think it’s a situation that arose from various episodes. With Gasperini he’s doing great things.”

How did transfer operations work?

“With Ricky and Paolo I always gave my assessment, then they tried to close the circle. Nowadays it is common to call the players first, and I have rarely been wrong. After meeting him, after having spoken to him, I understood that my feelings about the man turned out to be right.”

Did you have any arguments?

“Coaching means discussing. I invited my players to express themselves, to have clear ideas and because they are the ones who go on the field. There have been conflicts.

“I seem balanced, but when I am on the field I demand work and for this reason there have been arguments. It is for the common goal of winning, then the next day we start from scratch.”

You got a tattoo to mark the Scudetto…

“The tattoo is very heartfelt, it was natural. With Milan I felt no regrets. I gave everything and I received a lot.”

Who did you ring after the title win?

“My mother was the first person I called after the Scudetto with Milan. Then I thought of my father, he always lived my career between compliments and criticisms, suffering too much. He would have been so happy.”

The fans chanted ‘Pioli is on fire’…

“‘Pioli is on fire’ must be something linked to that moment at Milan because it was too beautiful to experience but I think it’s wrong to continue it. And I hope that ‘on fire’ will be my players of the moment, of the future, my teams of the future.

“Pioli was ‘on fire’ there because we all became in that environment – I’m talking about players, staff, club, fans above all – and he must stay there, I think it’s the right place. Now I am Bioli as they call me here (laughs) and we move forward.”

Reijnders and Pulisic have really grown…

“I already knew Tijjani, his intelligence and class. He had many chances to score, even in training, but he didn’t finish. The first year in Italy is always difficult. Reijnders is a champion.

“Pulisic’s first interview was full of positive things, he was already focused. He has the mentality and he was a pleasant player to coach.”

What do you think about Milan’s coaching change?

“You don’t have to know anything about what happened before. You have to be yourself and believe in what you do, don’t ask how they attacked or defended before. Conceicao is aware and will bring his way of approaching Milan. He’s an excellent coach, I wish him the best .”

What is Leao like?

“Rafa is a wonderful boy, very sensitive and kind-hearted. He needs to be encouraged and helped, but what I see is that in football criticism and praise are excessive.

“I see Rafa continually growing. I don’t know if he can win the Ballon d’Or, but I told him he can do it. He will always be a player like this, continually growing and improving.”

Where will your career go from here?

“In 2035 I will continue to coach, I think that when I am 70 we will see each other again.”