Fiorentina Vs AC Milan: Stefano Pioli's Special Match

AC Milan coach Stefano Pioli. (acmilan.com)

JAKARTA - Fiorentina was once an important part of AC coach Migum Stefano Pioli. Even though he has often faced his former club, Fiorentina's match against Milan this time has a special meaning for Pioli.

The duel at the Artemio Franchi Stadium, Florence, Sunday, March 31, 2024 in the morning, will be a special moment for Pioli. He has often returned to the club which he has strengthened and handled as an opponent.

But this time the game feels special. This is Pioli's first time back to a former club that recently lost CEO Joe Barone. The club leader was once the boss of Pioli when he handled La Viola.

The match ticket, which also remembers the Barone, immediately sold out. The stadium will be flooded with the host's tifosi. This is an emotional match for the tifosi. Moreover, Fiorentina faced opponents who were handled by their former players and coaches.

Pioli also felt the atmosphere of the match which would be wrapped in high emotions. He had experienced when the team lost captain Davide Astori.

"This is not the first time a situation like this has happened in Fiorentina. Florence and Viola fans are fantastic when they are united and together face moments like this," said Pioli, who once played with legend Gabriel Batistuta in Fiorentina.

"A special atmosphere has been waiting for us since the beginning of the match. Joe Barone has given a lot to Fiorentina. But the match still has to be held," he said.

For Pioli himself, the match against the former club was marked by the stronger rumors that Milan would dismiss the coach after the end of the competition.

Even though Pioli showed impressive performance, the Rossoneri were said to still want to change coaches.

An irony is that Milan actually showed good performance. They only lost once in the last 14 matches. This brilliant performance made Milan shot up second place below Inter Milan.

Milan has also confirmed tickets to the Champions League. Now, the team is focused on facing AS Roma in the Europa League quarter-finals.

However, Pioli still received criticism. The media has also revealed a replacement figure for Pioli, including Bologna Thiago Motta coach, Brighton and Hove Albion manager Roberto De Zerbi and Antonio Conte, former unemployed Inter coach.

Pioli himself finally opened his voice about his future in Milan. However, he gave a normative answer regarding rumors of his removal.

"I don't think about the future. I only think positively for the future matches and 60 days from this season. Until now, there has been no complete decision [over Pioli]. Everything is only part of it," he said.

"When the competition ends, I will say what I will do and what I will not. But what I clearly think about right now is Fiorentina and not the derby or the match against Juventus," he said again.

In the match against Fiorentina, Pioli fielded the full back duo of Davide Calabria and Alessandro Florenzi. Meanwhile, Theo Hernandez was absent due to the accumulation of yellow cards.

Di lini depan, striker Olivier Giroud menjadi starter. Dengan mengoleksi 12 gol, dirinya menjadi ancaman pertahanan pertahanan tuanan.

Meanwhile, Fiorentina relied on striker Andrea Belotti as the spearhead. He was supported by Lucas Beltran, Nico Gonzalez and Sottil.

Meanwhile, former Milan midfielder Giacomo Bonaventura was absent due to yellow card accumulation.

Fiorentina Lineup Forecast (4-2-3-1): Terraciano; Kayode, Milenkovic, Ranieri, Biraghi; Arthur, Mandragora; Gonzalez, Beltran, Sottil; Belotti

AC Milan (4-2-3-1):Maignan; Calabria, Tomori, Thiaw, Florenzi; Bennacer, Reijnders; Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, Leao; Giroud