[ad_1]
At 55, Stefano Pioli has won nothing in his coaching career so far. In October last year, he took over Milan, pulled it out of the ruins, qualified for the Europa League and now makes the Rossoneri fans dream of the scudetto. Defended in his speeches and behavior, he definitely attracts sympathy.
Pioli, what do you think they call you Normal?
– It’s cute, if by “normal” you mean someone who always wants to grow and improve, then I am. I’m lucky because I’m doing what I’ve always dreamed of, first as a player and today as a coach: being on the field.
But…?
– But “normal” does not mean that everything looks good on me and that I have no character. In football, too often, education and respect are confused with a lack of character and charisma. I often get angry.
If a player is late for an analysis, how does he react?
– It happened to me twice and in both cases the player did not enter the group for the match.
However, to train, it is not enough to be nice …
– First of all, you have to be smart. I like to be direct and direct, but sometimes you have to ignore it and silence the good of the team. There are good balances in the group and it is necessary to weigh the risks and benefits of a behavior.
What really worries you?
– When a player is not trying hard enough to get the most out of himself. This infuriates me.
When you arrived in Milan, there was a popular hashtag on Twitter #Pioliout, did it bother you?
– There is no balance in football: either you are too good or you are too weak. But this is not the case. I don’t have trophies, but I am convinced of my abilities. That’s why I don’t care what is said.
IlFoglio wrote: “Pioli always lacks something to win.”
– To win, you need the right team and so far I don’t think I had it. I got closer to Lazio, I reached the final of the Italian Cup and Super Cup, but I found myself facing Juventus. In Salernitana from Serie C we qualified for Serie B. I took Bologna with one point after 5 rounds, and with me they won another 50. I took Fiorentina to eighth place. I finished third in Lazio after a long wait. In football, you have a label that almost never reflects real valuation. But I remember with pleasure this sentence: “Is Pioli a men’s coach or is he a men’s coach?”
Where does this elegance come from?
– From the parents who transmitted to me the values of respect and education.
What kind of kid were you?
– I’m in love with soccer and that’s why I fought at school. When my mom enrolled me in the neighborhood school at 12, I was the happiest person in the world. My father used to be absent, he was a postman in the morning and a bricklayer or farmer in the afternoon. He died a year ago and the best memory is the sense of security I felt when I was around him. He was a generous man. We had very little, but the little was ready to share with others. My parents raised me to work and sacrifice. My mother is quite critical. When she played badly, Dad always found an excuse, she never. Today, when I get home, he tells me: “Stefano, as a coach you still haven’t won anything.” But inside she is proud.
Is it true that your brother Leonardo was better than you?
– Technically he was superior to me. He’s 16 months older, we went to rehearsals in Bologna. I was rejected immediately, Leo was about to be taken away, but he injured his knee and ended up with me in Parma and then in Serie C. He is now a postman, my other brother Danilo is a warehouse manager.
You met Giovanni Trapattoni at Juventus.
– Resuming training on Tuesday, he joined with passion alongside Platini, Shireya, Tardelli, Rossi, Bonek. He also paid attention to me, the 19-year-old, to improve the game with the left foot and the head kicks.
Did it inspire you to train?
– Not only, but also Bagnoli and Ranieri. Bagnoli spoke little, but his judgments were accurate. Ranieri was one of the first to practice the area. I was 27-28 years old with him and I became interested in working on the other side of the barricade.
How different are today’s players from the previous ones?
– They are different in everything around them, but only because they have a powerful car or are surrounded by beautiful women, and all too often they forget that they are guys like us. And they need support. I offer them trust and respect. We had no telephones or computers. We play cards at camps, today everyone has their own iPad. That’s why I don’t like pre-game camps. The world has changed, not the player.
Cassie and Calabria have revealed that they had a lot of arguments with you in the beginning.
– When they still don’t know each other well, it happens. We had different ideas for everyday work and play. It is not always easy to immediately understand your methods, work culture and ideas. When it doesn’t, there is resistance, but this is the normal growth process. The result is Kesie and Calabria, which you see today.
Are you screaming in the locker room?
– When I argue, I raise my voice. I’m not doing it on purpose, but things have to be said the way they are and the way they are said is important. When the time comes to listen, I listen. If I have doubts, I hope, but when I am convinced I am direct.
They say Pioli does not retain him after a good season. This is true for Lazio, Inter and Fiorentina, is it a coincidence?
– I am responsible only for Lazio. Sorry, because the first year we played fantastic. With the experience I have today, I would deal with certain situations differently. Inter cannot evaluate me for 6 months and I left Fiorentina at the level I found. Today I consider myself a suitable coach for any team.
Is it different in Milan?
– I work in harmony with Maldini, Masara and Gazidis. We haven’t done anything yet, but the results speak for themselves.
What is the realistic goal: qualify for the Champions League or the Scudetto?
– We have to be balanced and intelligent: last season we finished 12 points behind the Champions League area and 17 behind the champion Juve. It is not good to think about the scudetto, but to have the courage to continue growing, to be ambitious and to try to win every game, because we are Milan and we have class. We will see where we are in April.
You had a coronavirus, were you scared during those 18 days?
“Well, I was worried because I had infected my wife and son.” Fortunately, I had mild symptoms, I didn’t even lose my sense of smell and taste, so I generally spent this period in peace.
Do victories without the injured Ibrahimovic show that Milan are a team even without him?
– The team is aware of its qualities and so far has a clear understanding of the concepts of the game. We know how important Zlatan is to the growth of the group and how important his presence on the field is. But we have other options to take advantage of when you are not there.
Your first date?
– I was waiting for him in the gym at the end of training. Came when it was dark. I had never hugged someone so big. I know few people who are so smart and kind. But outside the field, because inside Ibra there is an animal. This is a compliment.
What did you ask of him and he of you?
– Put their qualities at the service of a young team. It was unpretentious.
Did Milan grow thanks to empty stadiums?
– No. We have grown since January with the work and the arrival of Ibra, Kjaer, Salemakers. We can’t wait to get back in the game in front of our fans. I’ve never seen an audience as warm and supportive as ours. With him, we would be stronger and our opponents would be much more afraid of us.
However, Leao’s face is like that of someone who was in the field.
“Rafa is very smart, but sometimes he feels like he’s in the clouds.” He grew a lot, but he’s fighting for a place with Rebic and Hauge, because to be ambitious we increased the competition. I would like you to show more enthusiasm and smile.
Do you encourage the players on the bench with “bravo” because they are young?
– There are times when it is convenient to encourage them. I never blame them for a technical error, but only if they don’t give it to their teammate. And I won’t say, “The ball here, the ball there.” I don’t like schemes. I offer principles, and on the field, players must be able to read situations and move accordingly.
Maldini said you covered the concept of the Milan player, which team did you support as a child?
– Dad was from Inter, the brothers from Parma. We had a subscription, even for a year with the whole family to do it for Regina. I shouldn’t say that because there is a very strong rivalry with Parma. Regina is the only team that would never coach. But they played in Serie B and we wanted a slightly higher level of football.
A colleague from Parma accuses him of losing the Emilian dialect.
– That’s right, the reason is that I traveled a lot in Italy.
And what will you say to your mother that you have not earned anything?
– I’m sure sooner or later I’ll win.
Fabrizio Salvio, Sportwick
Translation of “sport theme”
[ad_2]
