Stefano Pioli fondly remembers Davide Astori: “It’s impossible not to have positive memories of him.” He also expresses concern for his former club, AC Milan: “I feel very bad for them.”
The former coach of Milan and Fiorentina, now managing Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, spoke to Sky Sport on the anniversary of Astori’s passing, which occurred on March 4, 2018, in a hotel in Udine.
Here are his statements:
ASTORI – “It’s impossible to forget this date. And it’s impossible not to have positive memories of Davide. A fantastic guy, with whom I shared important moments and who left a mark on all of us.”
THE TATTOO – “Yes, I carry it with me. Davide is inside me not only for this symbol, but because I immediately understood that he would be an incredible person to work with and a great captain. We could have direct and sincere discussions: his sincerity and his contagious positive energy drove us all forward. We are in contact with many of his former teammates to carry forward Davide’s values.”
WHAT HE CARRIES INSIDE – “His smile. In my office, players had to pass by to go to breakfast. He was always the first and always smiling. I carry his positivity inside me.”
THE MOMENT (after Astori’s passing) – “It was difficult and complicated, an unimaginable situation. We supported each other and overcame the difficulties by following Davide’s example. It wasn’t my merit, but that of the players, the fans, and the club. We managed to honor his name, it wasn’t easy.”
WHY HE CHOSE HIM (as captain) – “There were two strong personalities, him and Milan Badelj. I chose Davide after talking to both because he knew what needed to be done. From the first meeting, I had positive feelings. He was the first to find solutions to problems. He was a true captain, responsible and present.”
SAD ABOUT MILAN’S CURRENT MOMENT? – “How bad do I feel for Milan? Very bad. Of course, I feel bad… Even though I am far away, I feel bad for the players, for the fans, because something magical and exciting had been created in Milan. I hope they find that energy again.”