Stefano Pioli insisted AC Milan are “equal” to Tottenham ahead of their Champions League showdown.
Italian giants Milan won the Serie A title last season but have struggled for form and with injuries this term, which might give Spurs hope of reaching the quarter final stage. But Pioli says Milan believe they can overcome their opponents even though he admitted that the Premier League is streets ahead of Italian football in the current climate.
Milan boss Pioli said: “We believe we’re equal to Tottenham. Winning the Champions League is a dream but it’s useless to think about it now. A week ago, they beat Manchester City, but we don’t come in better or worse than them. It will be a big game that we will have to play well.
“On an economic level there’s no match. Then you can go on culture, on many other aspects but this is not the time.”
Milan have been boosted by the return of England defender Fikayo Tomori and, while Ismael Bennacer is back in training, the first leg is too soon for him.
But Pioli, one of five Italian coaches to reach the last 16, also praised fellow countryman Antonio Conte who will lead Tottenham again after his recent surgery.
Pioli added: “This is a difficult challenge, it’s inevitable for a Round of 16 game. Conte is a great coach and one of the few colleagues who have called me to congratulate me on the title.
“Ancelotti is a legend but so is Conte, Spalletti. So many good coaches, we have a good school and important characteristics.
“We are playing in the Champions League, we want to play it with the right spirit. If we want to think we can win, we need high levels of intensity and technical quality. We have prepared for this.”
