Antonini on Pioli: ‘He is an exceptional person. He is very human’

Former Milan defender Luca Antonini, who won the Scudetto with the Rossoneri in 2010/11, spoke on Carlo Pellegatti’s YouTube Channel about current Milan boss Stefano Pioli, quoted by MilanPress. Pioli joined Milan in October 2019 and guided them to a sixth-place finish, taking over duties held by Marco Giampaolo. However, in his first full season at the San Siro, Pioli led Milan to second, before being crowned champions the following year for the 2021/22 campaign. That put an end to their Scudetto drought as they secured their first league title since 2011, back when Antonini was a part of the squad, alongside greats such as Thiago Silva, Gennaro Gattuso and Clarence Seedorf. However, the Rossoneri have struggled for consistency so far this season and currently sit in fourth, a mammoth 23 points behind league leaders Napoli in a weak defence of their Serie A crown. Pioli knows he must help secure Champions League football once again this season.

“I had him as a coach in Modena, we were both just starting out. I am close to him, he is an exceptional person. He is very human, he knows the players from a human point of view and that is fundamental. He’s a little bit like Ancelotti in this regard. He has given Milan back the right mentality that had been missing for some time. The arrival of Maldini, Massara and Pioli and the return of Ibra have given Milan the right push to win again.”