15 May 2017
THE FIRST STEP: ATALANTA, LAST 16
“Our road to the final began with a really tough game against Atalanta, who were and are still enjoying a great season. We are the holders, the team that everyone wants to beat and we are aware of the responsibility that places on us.
“We did well to keep our focus and maintain control of the game even when Atalanta pulled a goal back late on. Getting into the quarter-finals was our objective and we managed it."
AN IMPORTANT WIN: MILAN, QUARTER-FINALS
“Milan had beaten us both in the league and the Super Cup. As a result, we did not need any extra motivation to turn the tables in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals. We knew that we would have to fight until the very end to see it through and our focus allowed us to do that."
AN INTENSE DOUBLE HEADER: NAPOLI, SEMI-FINALS
“Napoli took the lead in the first leg and we did brilliantly to get back into contention and score three goals after the break. In the return fixture we did what was required of us, which was reaching the final.
"The game came in the middle of an intense period of the season and served as another example of our consistency in picking up important results.”
OVER THE LINE, IN THE FINAL
“Goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, strikers; every player makes mistakes just as every player can produce something special to turn a game on its head. It took a lot of effort to get us over the line in Naples."
LAZIO THE FINAL OBSTACLE
“Lazio have some great players and will make things difficult for us, as you would expect for a big final like this. We are only thinking about lifting the trophy and putting all the positives of our season so far into one performance.”
TIME TO STEP UP AND DELIVER
“The moment has come to take things to the next level. As it has been every season, our priority for now is winning some silverware, starting with the Coppa Italia. If we can do that then we can start preparing for the remaining two.”
