Speaking to Sky Sport after his Milan side’s 3-1 win over Parma, Stefano Pioli discussed an eventful match, his team’s hopes for a top 4 finish, as well as the negotiations for goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma’s extension.
On Zlatan Ibrahimović’s red card for dissent:
“He told me he’d argued with the referee, and that it had lasted a little while. He also told me that he hadn’t been disrespecful towards the referee, and above all had not offended him. He repeated the last thing he had said to Maresca to me – ‘So you’re not interested in what I’m saying?’.”
On what the result means for the race for a Champions League spot:
“The 75 point mark could be the right one [to qualify], but we’re competing with other teams who can win a lot of games between now and the end of the season. Perhaps we wasted too much time thinking ahead to the future, or on games that had just ended and other situations. We also need to stay concentrated on the upcoming match, there’s still a lot to do.”
On Fikayo Tomori:
“The management and I are clear on our satisfaction with the boy. Without wanting to take anything away from our other great centre-backs, I think our wish is to keep him. His technical ability is not up for debate.”
On the advice he would give Gianluigi Donnarumma on contract extension talks:
“I would advise him to stay at Milan because it’s a top club through and through – we’re building something here. My players are not winners yet, but they’re fighting to return us to winning ways.”
