Milan at the European test, Pioli: 'we must last'

On the wings of enthusiasm after the victory in the derby, Milan are preparing for a no less insidious double exam: Thursday's trip to Scotland against Celtic and next Monday's match against Roma. After seven consecutive victories, never defeated since the lockdown ended in June, Stefano Pioli tries to maintain maximum concentration in view of his debut in the Europa League group. AC Milan got there through three qualifying rounds, with suffering and no little luck, and will resume a speech interrupted on 13 December 2018 with a disastrous defeat against Olympiakos. If the return to the Champions League is essential for the accounts, making a good impression in the Europa League is no less important also for a matter of prestige. "We must be ambitious and we must only think about the next match - said the Rossoneri coach on Radio Anch'io lo sport, on RadioRai -: being ambitious for me means trying to win the next one. Now we are focused on Europe: we wanted it. , we got it. We must insist and try to last as long as possible ". How the euphoria is managed is being demonstrated these days to his teammates Zlatan Ibrahimovic: dominant in the success against Inter, ready in the post-match to revive the team's championship ambitions, and then a perfectionist in training at Milanello, severe above all with himself same. Behind the clear path of the team there is also the defensive solidity and, after the return of Alessio Romagnoli last week, today also that of Leo Duarte is recorded. The Brazilian central recovered from the coronavirus, which had stopped him after the September 22 swab. Another central defender, Matteo Gabbia, has not yet been negativized, as positive as the technical assistant Daniele Bonera. A new round of pads, according to Uefa protocol, is scheduled for tomorrow, on the eve of the group's departure for Scotland.