AC Milan coach Stefano Pioli says they will not be changing tactics or their approach for the Champions League quarter-final second leg despite Serie A top scorer Victor Osimhen making his return to Napoli.
Ismael Bennacer handed AC Milan a 1-0 home win over Serie A leaders Napoli in the first leg last Thursday.
It was AC Milan’s second successive win over Napoli after humiliating Luciano Spalletti’s side 4-0 earlier this month.
Victor Osimhen missed both games with a thigh injury, but Spalletti promised after the first-leg defeat his star striker would return for the previous outing.
“He is a very strong, impressive and decisive striker, so we take his characteristics into account, but at the same time we have our own way of playing football and we are not going to deviate from that,” Setfano Pioli told reporters as quoted by ESPN.
“We saw with the previous Napoli games that it’s a lot about knowing the moments to slow down and speed up, and that’s even more important with a player like Osimhen,” he continued.
Stefano Pioli says a one-goal advantage is not enough to provide security against Napoli who have not lost at home in their last 12 Champions League matches.
“We only have a minimal advantage. We have to play our game as a team and I think control the ball really well when we have it. That will be an important element,” he added.
While Napoli will be without centre-back Kim Min-jae, midfielder Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa and striker Giovanni Simeone, Pioli’s only injury concern is French striker Olivier Giroud, who has been dealing with an Achilles problem.
Napoli coach Luciano Spalletti dismissed suggestions his side were under any pressure and said he thought Osimhen’s return would cause concern for Pioli and Milan.
“Milan play modern, high-pressing attacking football, they really deserved to win the Scudetto last season and will come here to take the initiative. Having Osimhen to deal with will worry them too,” said Spalletti.
“We have the squad that allowed us to reach this stage, not just 11 players. Proper training in training is also important, otherwise you forget the movements and walk out of training, so they all contribute there as well.”
