Pioli: Milan not distracted by upcoming Champions League clash with Napoli

Stefano Pioli says Milan are fully focused on their Serie A clash with Empoli, and not distracted by their upcoming Champions League quarter-final against Napoli.

The Rossoneri host the runaway league leaders in the first leg on Wednesday, but face Empoli at San Siro on Friday prior to that huge encounter.

Milan sit third in Serie A after their impressive 4-0 win at Napoli on Sunday, though with Inter, Roma and Atalanta all within three points of them in a tight race for the top four.

Pioli stressed the need for humility against 14th placed Empoli as their league campaign remains important despite the upcoming glamour of the Champions League last eight.

“It is crucial to stay in tension,” he said at a press conference. “Matches are won first with attitudes and determination, and then with quality.

“We must be humble; the league is important to us and we must take advantage of this home game.”

5 – Since Stefano Pioli joined AC Milan (October 2019), the Rossoneri have won against the top-placed side at the start of the matchday in Serie A five different times, at least two more than any other team. Determination.#NapoliMilan #SerieA pic.twitter.com/xYfsikZ4Kn

— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) April 2, 2023

He added: “We have to stay on track. We produced an important victory in Naples, but we have to use it to play at that level there all the time. We just have to think about tomorrow.”

When later asked how he can ignore the upcoming Champions League clash, Pioli said: “Because the objective in the league is very important and because otherwise the victory in Naples would be useless.”

The Milan head coach was also asked about the club’s former owner Silvio Berlusconi, who is in intensive care after being diagnosed with leukaemia.

“We’re all worried, but we don’t have such precise news clearly,” he said. “We hug him and hope he can recover and return to the stadium.”

Inter striker Romelu Lukaku was allegedly targeted by racist chants from Juventus fans following his equaliser in their 1-1 Coppa Italia draw in midweek.

When asked if Italian football has a racism problem, Pioli said: “I don’t know. I have many friends who go to the stadium with respect, but I’m very sorry because football and sport must be lived with a different spirit.”