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Serie A | Gameweek 8
Oct 20, 2019 at 7.45pm UK
 
LL

2-2

Calhanoglu (20'), Piatek (81')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Babacar (62'), Calderoni (92')

New Milan boss Stefano Pioli calls for "desire and focus"

:Headline: New Milan boss Stefano Pioli calls for 'desire and focus': ID:375503: from db_amp
The former Inter and Fiorentina manager faces Lecce for his first game in charge.

New AC Milan boss Stefano Pioli has cautioned not to expect a perfect display in his first match in charge against Lecce on Sunday.

Pioli has succeeded Marco Giampaolo at the San Siro and will be looking to turn around the fortunes of a club who have lost four of their opening seven Serie A games.

Milan welcome a Lecce side all of whose six points this season have come away from home and Pioli, who will celebrate his 54th birthday on the day of the game, wants total commitment from his new team.

"My players won't have to worry about being perfect – tomorrow it will be impossible to seem totally organised – but I expect a lot of desire and focus," he said at a press conference.

"I have quality players, tomorrow I will better understand the technical and physical characteristics of each one.

"So far the players are giving me everything, everyone is fine and everyone expects to play, the attitude is right and it will always have to be."

Milan have lost their last two home games, but Pioli is still aware of the size of the club and feels ready for the challenge ahead.

He lasted just six months as Inter boss before being sacked in May 2017, before two seasons in charge of Fiorentina.

"I'm at a prestigious club with a great history, it's an honour and a proud moment to be here," he said.

"If you coach Milan, playing at the San Siro doesn't have to be a worry, but an extra motivation.

"I feel like I am ready to coach at this level. Over the years I have learned above all from the bad experiences that have improved me both from a technical and a human perspective.

"I feel I have matured."

Struggling Lecce go into the game on the back of two straight defeats, but boss Fabio Liverani will not send his team out purely to frustrate their hosts.

"I do not believe that only by defending we will be able to score points," he said on the club website.

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Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Napoli128221991026
2Atalanta BCAtalanta1281331151625
3Fiorentina1274125101525
4Inter Milan1274126141225
5Lazio1281325141125
6Juventus126602171424
7AC Milan115332014618
8Bologna114611513218
9Udinese125161518-316
10Empoli12363910-115
11Torino124261518-314
12Roma123451417-313
13Parma122641618-212
14Hellas VeronaHellas Verona124081727-1012
15Como122461323-1010
16CagliariCagliari122461222-1010
17Genoa12246922-1310
18Lecce12237521-169
19Monza121561015-58
20VeneziaVenezia122281121-108
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