Stefano Pioli expects tough test when AC Milan travel to Slavia Prague

AC Milan head coach Stefano Pioli says his side has the quality to finish the job against Slavia Prague and reach the Europa League quarter-finals.

The Italian side hold a two-goal advantage going into the second leg of their last-16 tie in Prague following last week’s 4-2 win at San Siro.

Pioli told reporters: “We knew this moment would arrive, a crucial point in the season. Tomorrow we have an aim we need to reach.

Coach Pioli previews #SLPACM

Analysing the reverse fixture  What to expect  Our mentality #UEL #SempreMilan pic.twitter.com/X7VRpDAta6

— AC Milan (@acmilan) March 13, 2024

“There’s a lot of talk around our opponents having the game of their lives, but we can and want to do the same.

“Our opponents will bring all their quality to bear. They’ve only lost once at home all season, but we want to go through and we’re convinced that we can with the quality we’ve got.

“We don’t need to force it, nor can we afford to be too calm. We need to play our own game, which is at a high tempo, especially in Europe, where you come up against some really good teams, good in attack and defence.”

The Czech runners-up went toe-to-toe with Milan in the first leg, despite the 26th-minute dismissal of defender El Hadji Diouf.

Milan’s Christian Pulisic struck the all-important fourth goal for Pioli’s side with five minutes remaining.

Christian Pulisic celebrates after scoring against Slavia Prague in the first leg

Pioli, whose side are second in Serie A, 16 points behind leaders Inter Milan, added: “We weren’t pleased, especially with that second half.

“We need to be clear on the fact that at 11 versus 11, our opponents caused us problems.

“I honestly think they will change it up from the first leg, even though they did well for the first 30