Milan derby in the offing in Champions League semi
AC Milan coach Stefano Pioli said that he isn’t thinking about a potential Milan derby in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals after his team got past Napoli in the last eight on Tuesday.
Milan prevailed 2-1 on aggregate after a 1-1 draw in Naples and are likely to face Inter Milan in the next round as their local rivals are two goals in the lead ahead of Wednesday’s second leg with Benfica.
“We’re too happy to have overcome such a good team... it’s a great feeling,” Pioli said reporters.
“Let’s take it one step at a time, whoever we get, we get. Whoever we get it will be a great derby and Champions League semi-final.”
Milan are in the last four of the Champions League for the first time since they were last crowned kings of Europe in 2007.
They have overcome a post-World Cup slump in recent weeks and Tuesday’s performance was another statement display which gives them hope of reaching the final.
“This gives us real faith in ourselves. We already had belief but getting past Napoli and Tottenham will help us grow,” added Pioli.
“These are experiences which give you the strength and ability to manage a certain type of pressure. For many of us it was the first time that we were playing such an important match...It’s another big step forward.”
Napoli coach Luciano Spalletti lamented that his team weren’t given a penalty for Rafael Leao’s tackle on Hirving Lozano six minutes before the Portugal winger sped up the pitch to lay on Olivier Giroud’s goal which would decide the tie.
Neither referee Szymon Marciniak nor the VAR officials saw anything wrong with Leao’s challenge, but Spalletti was angry at his team not getting a spot-kick while they were only a goal behind.
Spalletti was also annoyed that he had to do without Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Kim Min-jae after they received soft bookings during the first leg.
“In the 37th minute there was penalty, it’s a clear penalty... he twisted his ankle,” said Spalletti to reporters.
“We were punished by what happened in the first game. The players with strength and power were the ones which were taken away from us, unjustly so.”