Pioli urges Milan to focus on their own race, not Napoli

Stefano Pioli has made it clear Inter’s clash with Napoli is not “decisive” in the Serie A title race, with his focus remaining on Milan running their own race.

The champions will resume the season eight points behind Napoli and will be hoping for assistance from their city rivals in their quest to close the gap when they face the leaders at San Siro on Wednesday

Head coach Pioli says Milan must focus on their own game following a break for the World Cup.

“We don’t have to race anyone but ourselves. To win the championship you will need more than 85 points,” he told a press conference ahead of Wednesday’s clash against Salernitana.

“We have the chance to do better than last year, but we have to push hard. I think it is very correct not to go too far with those thoughts, but to think about tomorrow, when we will find a warm environment and a tough opponent: that’s what we need to start well.

“[Inter versus Napoli is] important yes, not decisive. We don’t think about the other games. Let’s focus on our stuff and then see. We are the first to play: what matters is our race.”

Milan’s quest for silverware is not solely focused on Serie A though, with the Supercoppa Italiana later this month presenting Pioli’s side with their first chance to lift a trophy, while they are also still competing in the Champions League and Coppa Italia.

“We are in the race on four fronts, and it is certain that we want to win something. We wrote history last year, but in history we want to stay, by winning,” he added.

“If we want to consider ourselves a winning team, we have to win something again this year.

“I saw a report on [Rafael] Leao: many goals and assists, but titles won, one. We need to do more. We have four options to do that.”