Scaroni on Pioli, Milan future and San Siro plans

Milan President Paolo Scaroni reassures coach Stefano Pioli ahead of the match with Empoli and gives an update on whether they and Inter could reconstruct San Siro.

It kicks off at San Siro at 14.00 GMT.

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from today’s four Serie A games on the LIVEBLOG.

The Rossoneri are coming off back-to-back wins against Lazio and Slavia Praha, but both were real struggles against teams down to eight and 10 men respectively, so far from confidence-boosting performances.

Rafael Leao and Alessandro Florenzi are suspended against Empoli, but Luka Jovic returns after his two-match ban, while Fikayo Tomori is given his first start since that serious muscular injury in December.

It has been another few days of speculation around whether Milan will stick with Pioli or are seeking his replacement for next season.

“This issue of Pioli’s future has been going on in the media for months now, but not within the club. As Zlatan Ibrahimovic said, just let him do his work and all will go well,” Scaroni told DAZN.

There were also reports that the Rossoneri were seeking investment from the likes of Saudi fund PIF, who already own Newcastle United.

“Giorgio Furlani was very clear, there is absolutely no truth in it and another issue just blown up by the media.”

Scaroni was asked about the stadium plans, because there was a meeting this week between Inter, Milan and Mayor of Milano Giuseppe Sala to discuss the Stadio Meazza situation.

“Milan continue with the San Donato project, we paid €40m for the land, so that is our priority. Mayor Sala wants to make one final attempt to reconstruct San Siro.

“We will give WeBuild the opportunity to draw up a project, to see what can be done to make it a modern stadium suited to our requirements. The second issue is to realise how it can be done while two teams continue to play regularly in Serie A and European football.

“We need to see what impact that will have on our team, our fans and everything else. WeBuild have promised they will have a plan drawn up by June.”