Pioli: Nobody would expect us in the final, but I know how good my players are. Leão will be a big help

The Champions League semi-final replay between Inter Milan and AC Milan is scheduled for tonight. Rossoneri coach Stefano Pioli is making plans to surprise Inter.

The first leg certainly didn’t go AC Milan’s way. Inter scored twice in 11 minutes and then hit the bar.

The defenders in red and black didn’t know where to jump first.

In the second half, the game was already even, the home side also hit the bar after a Sandro Tonali shot, but they couldn’t score and will have to make up the two-goal deficit in the rematch.

“Our goal was to give a great performance, to partially build on the second half of the first game, but it still wouldn’t be enough. The game is long, we have to start better, stay focused, make as few mistakes as possible and take advantage of their mistakes,” Pioli told the press conference.

“We have an important goal, which is to win the game, we can still qualify for the final. Nobody expected to see us here, let alone in the final, but I know how good my players are. The possibilities are there, you have to believe in them and we believe in them,” the AC Milan coach urged his team.

The Rossoneri were noticeably missing their attacking star, Rafael Leão, in the first leg, with question marks hanging over both Rade Krunic and Junior Messias.

“Rafa is feeling better, he, Rade and Junior are available for today’s pre-match training. If everything goes the way we think it will, all three will start the game,” Pioli said yesterday.

Source: AC Milan, UEFA