Stefano Pioli says he would like to return to Serie A and prove his worth, insisting he is far from washed up.
With quotes via TuttoMercatoWeb, the 61-year-old spoke to Corriere dello Sport about his future, a day after he was spotted in Naples on the eve of Napoli’s game with Roma.
“I’m also considering going abroad, but I’d like to stay in Italy. I want to prove something here,” Pioli said. “I’ve had plenty of offers from abroad, though not from Spain, England or France. In Italy there’s been a little interest, but nothing that strong.”
The former Milan, Inter, Lazio and Bologna coach has been without a club since leaving Fiorentina last November. He also clarified the circumstances of his exit. “The truth is I agreed a mutual termination after being sacked, because it was a sacking, and I gave up a year of my contract.”
Pioli: ‘Two wins and you’re no longer washed up’
Pioli is among a group of experienced coaches, including Maurizio Sarri, Luciano Spalletti and Massimiliano Allegri, who have been labelled washed up by critics this season.
“I’m not washed up at all. It’s true my last experience went badly, but I feel young inside and still able to give a lot,” he said. “That’s football, and social media hands out emotional labels. Two wins and you’re no longer washed up.”
Pioli recently visited Como’s training centre on the eve of their 4-1 Champions League win over Manchester United, and praised Cesc Fabregas.
“Things have changed for him too, because many of his players are playing in Europe for the first time. It’s a different life for a coach and a team, and training intensity inevitably drops, because it’s all about recovery and preparing for the next game,” he explained. “Cesc is very intelligent. He’ll have a great career.”