Pioli: ‘Milan speculation for too long, no Napoli talks’ | OneFootball

Stefano Pioli feels a 3-1 defeat to Torino is Milan’s season in a nutshell, but insists he has not spoken to Napoli, though his future has been speculated on for ‘too many months.’

The Rossoneri have nothing more to gain from this season and it showed, both in the choice of starting XI and the attitude as they were torn apart 3-1 by Torino.

Duvan Zapata and Ivan Ilic were allowed embarrassingly free headers in the first half, then Ricardo Rodriguez hit a scorcher in off the underside of the bar just 18 seconds into the restart.

Ismael Bennacer’s penalty for an Adam Masina foul on Christian Pulisic was little consolation.

“Even though the result is harsh considering they only had four shots on goal, we were distracted and not focused enough on those crosses in the first half,” Pioli confessed to Sky Sport Italia.

“We lost a lot of the individual duels and this is the direction the game went in. It’s not that we didn’t play, but they were more focused and determined in the incidents that decided the match.”

Does resting stars like Rafael Leao and Olivier Giroud show that Milan still lack strength in depth, particularly compared to rivals Inter?

“We were the best of the ‘normal’ teams this season, as there was one team that did something extraordinary, and we did better than the others. It’s not about first choice players, but Torino gave it a bit more tonight that allowed them to get to the loose balls first, reach the crosses and headers first.”

Pioli tired of Milan and Napoli speculation

Next weekend will be Milan’s final match of the campaign and many expect the last on the bench for Pioli, so how is he feeling?

“It is the last game of the season and then we’ll see. People have been talking about this for many months, too many months, and the team did very well. It was not easy to follow a coach who was in this situation, so I congratulate them for that.

“There is a week to go, I’ll experience that week and then we’ll see.”

Did Pioli want Milan to be more forceful in defending him in the media over these months or did he feel abandoned by their silence?

“I did not have difficulties because the squad remained united and concentrated on the work. Inter did something exceptional, we did better than the others, so it was still a good season. There are regrets over the Champions League and Europa League, but for the rest we were up to the standards of everyone except for Inter.

“As a person, I tried to go through it with balance and to pass on that to the squad. I was not affected by things certain people said. I know my level and that everything in this world is exaggerated, so I just carried on along my path.”

If Milan score two goals against Salernitana at San Siro, it can be the best attacking tally for a Pioli side, but it is already the worst defensive record of his five years at the club.

“I think these are significant statistics. Tonight was an example of our whole season defensively, we allowed four opportunities and conceded three goals. I realise that conceding too many goals penalised us many times this season and was our biggest weakness.”

Does Pioli expect to be informed of his future before the final game so the Milan fans can give him a fitting salute?

“I am not angry with anyone. In my five years at Milan, we always met after the end of the season, so I don’t know what will happen next week.”

Having been linked with Napoli, Pioli was jokingly asked if he would prefer his next club to be in the south and perhaps by the sea?

“I have not spoken to any other club. If and when my rapport with Milan ends, but not before, as I have too much respect for this club and its fans. My contract still runs for another year, I’ve had five wonderful, intense years and I am just concentrated on ending the season.

“Then, if there are any situations, I will evaluate them.”