Fiorentine coach Pioli recently accepted an interview with the Italian media "Republic" and talked about topics such as returning to Serie A and coaching in Saudi Arabia.

Are you excited to return to Serie A?

"Yes, because this is my heartfelt decision, I feel like I'm at an ideal moment in my career and ready to take all the responsibilities. I often tell the club chairman Comiso that Fiorentina has invested in me and I will give Fiorentina equally."

Tattooed on my arm when I took Milan to win the championship in 2022...

"In this journey, I have gained enthusiasm, passion and professional skills, and now I pay more attention to the players developing the right psychological qualities than ever before. Because to achieve brilliant goals, mentality is more important than technology. I don't care whether the players go out for pizza together, but I insist that they have to go as I ask on the court. Do. However, here, there is a very healthy team, so we have the lead. "

Speaking of dedication, Ronaldo's victory in Riyadh is impressive...

"Only by working with Ronaldo, you can truly appreciate his greatness. He is a person who can influence everything around him, and it is very easy to coach him because he never needs you to remind you of anything. His spirit inspires everyone around him, and even though he is 40 years old, he can still carry out strict self-management and clearly know what he can and cannot do. "

What drives these people who are already champions to continue to improve every day?

"It's persistence. Besides Ronaldo, I saw this in Klose during the Lazio era and Ibrahimovic in Milan. To reach the peak, you have to be fully focused on your goals. I like to get to the stadium at 7 a.m. and leave at 6 p.m. so that I have enough time to handle everything. Even when going out with my family, it's up to the rest time and the right diet, which is why only a few people can become champions."

Who do you admire outside the field of football?

"I always remember a sentence from Michael Jordan: 'Training like you have never won, and playing like you have never lost'. This sentence is a role model for me, like Sina, talented, but his real strength lies in the desire to keep improving every time he trains."

Your brother also coached amateur teams...

"When I was a kid, there were no mobile phones and video games, only football. I remember one year that was a wonderful time. Parma, who we supported, was at Serie C, and Regina, was in Serie B. We took turns to those two stadiums to watch the game every week. That was the best thing for us."

How was life in Riyadh?

"Calm and safe, but a bit monotonous. Foreigners live in private communities with a fully equipped environment. Most of them go out to restaurants or shopping malls. My family feels a little bored there."

How about the Serie A?

"It's an interesting and healthy league, and we're approaching the Premier League, although we can't catch up with them completely. Premier League teams can pay 30 million euros for an average player, and we can only sign one top player with the same money."

Will Naples win the Serie A championship again?

"They will compete with Inter Milan for the championship. Although Allegri may not want to hear this (laugh), Juventus has a huge advantage, that is, he does not need to participate in the European game."

Can Gattuso succeed in coaching the Italian national team?

"He is the right person to lead the Italian team, but if he misses the World Cup again, it will have a negative impact on the Italian football system."

You have been associated with the position of Italian coach...

"I am very happy about this, but at this stage I don't want to coach the national team. I like the pace of the club's work, and I thought Ranieri would accept this opportunity to end his brilliant career. After he refused, I also thought of Gattuso."

Milan almost fired you, but you stayed and won the Serie A championship. Do you enjoy this revenge?

"This is more of a great joy, bringing me happiness and fame. This is not a revenge, and when you are on the highest level, you will always be questioned. The more exaggerated the praise, the more intense the criticism."

Talking about the opportunity to return to San Siro this season "I believe I will be very excited. In the season of winning the championship, there was a dreamy atmosphere on the court. The slogan of 'Pioli is on fire' made me happy. I led a fantasy team."

Are you satisfied with the current Florence?

"Yes, thanks to Comiso, he keeps good players like Keane, De Gea, Goodmondson, Faccioli and Gossens, who are the foundation for us in the next two years."

Is Keane's stay a key?

"I always wanted to bring him to Milan. Although some people don't say much about him, none of them are true. He is a serious, responsible and full-time player. He is also a good friend of Leo. They are two kind-hearted people."

Why do you want Dzeko?

"He is a master on the court, and an example for young people off the court." Is the trident of Keane, Dzeko and Goodmondson feasible?

"This will depend on the other eight players, opponents and the type of game. It is not the formation that determines the victory. If conditions permit, I can even send four forwards."

What are your expectations for the transfer market?

"We need to bring in one or two players, the club knows what I need, I like Comiso because he is straightforward and honest, we will face it if there is a problem. ”

Champions League is a dream?

"This has to be our goal, we need more ideas and a little more courage to achieve it, that is, we must believe that we can compete with any opponent. ”

The last trophy in Fiorentina was the Italian Cup in 2001. Fans dreamed of winning another championship on the 100th anniversary of the club's establishment...

"I know this well, it is responsibility and motivation. ”

Who will the first person to think of when I get the trophy?

"Astori, my captain, I feel that he is still with us. I can't imagine what that would feel like, but winning a championship for him would be incredible. ”