AC Milan coach Stefano Pioli defended his players ahead of their clash with Lazio today.

Milan go into the game on the back of a 1-1 draw with Cremonese.

Pioli said: “I know what I'm doing and why I'm doing it, I know how to take responsibility. There isn't a Milan 1 or Milan 2. The performance (against Cremonese) wasn't lacking, just the winning result.

“The team is fine, they're not worried, they're not afraid, they're not heartbroken, rather focused and determined. Our mood depends on the results: we smile if we win, at the moment we're not happy because we have high expectations.

“Each season tells its own story. Last year we won an exceptional championship, and this year we set off with the will to win it again. Last year we took big steps forward when we came out of the Champions League, while this year in Europe we're doing exceptional things.