Rafael Leao’ eighth-minute strike was enough to secure all three points for Rossoneri and leapfrog Inter Milan and Napoli to the summit.
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AC Milan head coach Stefano Pioli was delighted as his side moved to the top of the Serie A table after the 1-0 win over Sampdoria at San Siro on Sunday. Rafael Leao’ eighth-minute strike was enough to secure all three points for Rossoneri and leapfrog Inter Milan and Napoli to the summit. The pressure was on Milan as Inter and Napoli played out a 1-1 draw on Saturday and Rossoneri knew a win would make them the leaders, even if Inter have a game in hand. The race for Scudetto is becoming tighter with the top three teams separated by just two points.
3 BIG. ENORMOUS. MASSIVE. POINTS ?#MilanSampdoria #SempreMilan pic.twitter.com/mzGOzUoxY3
— AC Milan (@acmilan) February 13, 2022
Over the last seven days, Milan have beaten Inter and Sampdoria in Serie A, crushing Lazio 4-0 in the Coppa Italia to reach the semi-final too.
“It has been the perfect week. There were very difficult and delicate games coming up a week ago, so winning all three is certainly a great sign. We’ve got to take it one game at a time and maintain this mentality,” Pioli told Sky Sport Italia.
“Milan have an identity now, regardless of who plays, and that is the most gratifying thing for me, our work and the club.
“Our aim was to improve on last season. We currently have two points more than at this stage last term, so it’ll be tough, but we face every match as the most important test.”
Pioli was asked if he was a Milan fan right now, would he be dreaming of the Scudetto?
“If I was a fan, I’d be in the stands celebrating with the rest of the crowd. I try to work hard to make my dreams come true.
“As a coach, I am proud when the fans are able to recognise a gesture like chasing down a ball and recovering a tackle. We are at a very high level when it comes to confidence and self-belief, so the club, players, fans, we are all pushing in the same direction.
“We know there’s a long path ahead of us, but we want to keep it going.”
Leao has now scored 10 goals this season and was repeatedly hailed by the crowd at San Siro.
“Leao is an extraordinary player, but he mustn’t rest on his laurels. I don’t know if we are the best squad in the league, but in terms of spirit, we are second to nobody. I told my staff after the summer that Rafael Leao and Sandro Tonali were completely different players to the ones we’d left a month earlier. They are young and can still keep improving.”
