Stefano Pioli Aims For Redemption And Derby Triumph Against Inter Milan

AC Milan manager Stefano Pioli is eager to prevent city rivals Inter Milan’s Serie A title celebrations when the two teams clash on Monday. Pioli sees the match as a chance for redemption following a disappointing season. Inter Milan leading the table by 14 points over Milan in second place with six games left, could secure their 20th Scudetto with a victory at the San Siro, where Milan will play as the home team.

Milan have faced a series of disappointments lately, with their last viable chance of winning a trophy this season crushed by AS Roma in the Europa League quarter-finals. Roma secured a 3-1 aggregate victory over Milan last week.

“We can use all the terms we want pride, responsibility, and belonging. For the league table, for Thursday’s elimination, for Inter’s Scudetto, it’s an opportunity for redemption, for pride,” Pioli told reporters on Sunday. “I have a lot of faith in my players, they know how important the game is.”

If Inter secures the title on Monday, they will surpass Milan’s count of 19 Serie A championships. Recent history does not favor Milan, as Inter has emerged victorious in the last five derbies across all competitions.

“We will need the best Milan possible. Some think that we have never changed in the derbies, but tomorrow we have to do everything we can so that they don’t win,” Pioli said. “We will need to play an exceptional game, we come off the back of five consecutive defeats against them and they have always given us problems.”

Although there have been rumors in the Italian media about Pioli’s job being at risk, the 58-year-old is confident that he still has more to offer to Milan.

“I want to give everything as I have done since my first day, I have been given a lot and I still feel like I have a lot to give to this team,” he said. “Work is the only verb I know, we will try to win every game from now until the end and then we will see.”