Stefano Pioli urged his Milan side to stay focused and keep their spirits high ahead of Fiorentina’s visit to San Siro on Sunday. It’s been a while since the Rossoneri came this close to lifting the Scudetto, and the Italian manager demands ‘warm hearts and calm head’ in the season finale.
With four Serie A games to go, Milan hold a two-point lead on second-placed Inter but have three formidable tasks on hand in the remainder of the season. Fiorentina stunned the Rossoneri 4-3 in the reverse fixture at Artemio Franchi, yet they are nowhere near that form heading into the business end of the campaign.
Driven by vengeance, Milan will be looking to derail Fiorentina’s bid to secure European qualification for next season and maintain their grip on a long-awaited Serie A title. Pioli’s men will take the field in high spirits following a sensational come-from-behind 2-1 win at Lazio last time out.
Despite going unbeaten in 12 Serie A matches (W7, D5), Milan can ill-afford to get complacent, with Inter breathing down their necks. Indeed, Pioli called for composure and calmness ahead of the crunch league fixtures, including Sunday’s meeting with Fiorentina.
“This is not the time to talk, it is the time to do,” Pioli told a news conference, as relayed by Reuters. “A warm heart and calm head is needed until the end of the season.“
Pioli knows what Milan have to do in the remaining Serie A outings to conquer their first league title since 2010/11.
“We need energy, we play a style of football that requires intensity and effort, but then we have to be calm in understanding the game. Great concentration and great desire to do our job and do it well until the end is what we want.
“There are no other thoughts, we’re not thinking about May 22, we’re thinking about tomorrow. And that’s how it has to be.“