Pioli admits Milan needs a win against Sassuolo
AC Milan manager Stefano Pioli insists his side’s match against Sassuolo is not do-or-die, but demanded a return to winning ways in Serie A.
The Rossoneri have picked up just one victory from their past three league appearances to slip 11 points behind rival Inter Milan, which sits at the top of the table.
But speaking ahead of Milan’s home clash against Sassuolo on Sunday (AEDT), Pioli said: “We need a win and I expect a convincing performance.
“Tomorrow’s game isn’t about me, nor is it do or die, and there’s still a long way to go in the season.
“We’ve studied Sassuolo. It is a side that builds from the back and creates chances. But it also concede a lot, too, so we’ll have to take advantage of its frailties, especially in defence.”
Sassuolo sits in 15th, just three points above the relegation zone, and heads to the San Siro with only one point from a possible 12.
But Pioli will be aware that it has claimed high-profile victims in Juventus and Inter already this season.
He continued: “The players have no fear and they want to overcome difficulties. We must always give our all.
“We have made some mistakes so far that we’ve paid for. We can’t find that consistency, even within the same game. But we are united and continuously looking to get better. We’re creating a lot, but we need to be more clinical and concede less.”
Pioli will hope to have Luka Jovic available. The former Real Madrid and Fiorentina forward, who has scored three times in his previous three league matches, sustained an ankle injury in his side’s 2-2 draw against Salernitana last weekend.
However, he trained with his team-mates this week and could feature.
Olivier Giroud, who is the leading scorer for AC Milan in 2023, is set to lead the line, but the Frenchman has netted just three league goals at the San Siro this season.
