Posted by Ahead of their highly anticipated UEFA Champions League matchup later this season, AC Milan manager Stefano Pioli asserted that Empoli will be a greater threat to his club than Chelsea.
Four days prior to their trip to west London, Milan, which is currently fifth in Serie A, play Empoli.
Given the busy schedule following the international break, Pioli believes their domestic competitors will pose a greater threat than their impending Champions League opponents.
He stated, “I don’t think there’s too much difference between playing well in Italy and in Europe,” in what appears to be a dig at the English team.
A faster pace is necessary for the Champions League, but it’s not impossible.
I am aware that there are expectations surrounding the Chelsea games, but I still believe that the match against Empoli will be the most challenging for us.
“Only two days prior to that match, I’ll have welcomed the players back from international service.
“I believe that outcomes against Chelsea are definitely within our reach if we play at our typical levels,” the coach said.
We are attempting to raise our standards even further than the previous campaign, but Serie A is a competitive league, and everyone has raised their game with new additions, so we want to remain in the mix until the very finish.