Pioli wants AC Milan to get off to a winning start

AC Milan has lost its opening Serie A game in each of the last two seasons Stefano Pioli is keen on breaking this streak in Monday's opener against Bologna.

Stefano Pioli says AC Milan, which finished sixth last season, is targeting a top-four finish this term so that it can get back into the Champions League for the first time since 2013-14.

AC Milan has lost its opening Serie A match in each of the last two seasons and coach Stefano Pioli says the side needs to kick that habit when it hosts Bologna on Monday.

Pioli said Milan, sixth last season, was targeting a top-four finish, which would get it back into the Champions League for the first time since 2013-14, but he did not want to talk about aiming for the title.

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“If we want to finish in the top four, we need to start well,” he told reporters. “We cant be chasing the whole time. Starting with a win is vital, which is why we're focusing on tomorrow's match.”

He added, “We are an ambitious team, we are Milan and we must play to win and continue to improve, but without deluding ourselves.

“To talk about a winning a championship which has not yet started is a gamble: forecasts are made to be proved wrong.”

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Milan lost its opening match 1-0 at Udinese last season and was beaten 3-2 at Napoli the season before that.

Pioli, appointed to replace Marco Giampaolo last October, was initially expected to step aside for Ralf Rangnick but Milan's excellent form in the second half of last season persuaded the club to extend his contract.