Di Francesco ahead of Milan clash: They have quality and we want more courage

Eusebio Di Francesco, the head coach of US Lecce, spoke about the upcoming match against AC Milan, emphasizing that the game will be different due to the significant capabilities of their opponent, despite their recent loss to SL Benfica.

Eusebio Di Francesco said: "Against AC Milan it will be a different match due to their characteristics. They are a team with quality and many solutions, and they have become more aggressive and organized compared to last season. They lost to SL Benfica, a team of high level, but even if AC Milan seems to be in a difficult period, they have a lot of talent."

US Lecce's coach stated: "I am not happy because I know this team is capable of more. We analyzed the match against AC Monza and know what needs to be improved in certain aspects. This competition is heading in this direction; there must be tactical application, but also courage and the desire to hurt strong opponents. The team is creating more chances than last year, and we need balance, as we performed below our true value against AS Roma and Cagliari. I have seen development and I want to see more courage on the pitch."

Eusebio Di Francesco discussed the team's situation and absences, confirming that Ilic will get some minutes, while he praised Ngom's entry during the last match. He also confirmed that Berisha, Gandlman, and Giopz will miss the match against AC Milan. Regarding Berisha, he said: "We need to be careful and manage him in the best possible way. His injury wasn't serious, but there were some stability issues."

Regarding the style of play, US Lecce's coach stressed the need to exploit spaces, saying: "If we attack the spaces, there is a chance to create more opportunities. We need more determination in choosing the spaces when closing off avenues. We have carried this issue with us since last year, but I am convinced that goals will come from the strikers."

Di Francesco praised US Lecce goalkeeper Falcone, considering he deserved a call-up, but he also confirmed that the club is moving towards giving opportunities to young players. He expressed his desire to see a player from Lecce reach the Italian national team and commended Bisseck, affirming that he is a good goalkeeper who performed well against his team.

The coach spoke about defensive development, saying: "Growth starts with knowing how to defend. Danilo Vega has worked hard in this direction, and he must not lose the concept of being the first defender. When you intercept more balls, you can be more offensive. I intentionally changed some things to make the team more proactive."

Eusebio Di Francesco concluded his remarks by addressing the new changes in football, stating: "I feel something different, and I love this. I don't like wasting time and doing what is called 'milena'. We now have more actual playing time, and this requires us to be more prepared and focused. Sometimes I don't understand some mistakes that are not related to the game, but I am satisfied with this change."