Pioli sees good early signs

New Milan boss Stefano Pioli is pleased with the response from his players but also feels it will take time to make any real changes. The 55-year-old was handed the Milan reins when Marco Giampaolo’s seven-match spell came to an end with his removal and the Rossoneri sitting in 13th spot in the Serie A standings.
Pioli has been in charge of many top Italian clubs, including Fiorentina, Lazio, Palermo and Milan’s city rivals Inter, and he faces a huge challenge to try and turn things around at the San Siro.
Milan have won three games but have already lost four this term, with Giampaolo paying the price and Pioli becoming the club’s fifth manager since 2016.
He has had little time to work with his men – several players have been away on international duty over the past fortnight – but the former defender likes what he has seen so far. “I got the answers I was looking for. I wanted attention, willingness and curiosity, things that I found right away,” he told a pre-match press conference on Saturday.
The coach’s first match in charge will be Sunday’s home clash with Lecce and he will hope to make a winning start against a side in the relegation zone, but he warned there will not be too much different about the team until he has had time to take stock of his squad. “The next break will be the time for the first evaluation,” he added. “You can’t change Milan in ten days.”