AC Milan coach Stefano Pioli was left delighted with their 2-1 win against Roma.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic was superb for the Rossoneri, scoring a goal with a free kick and earning a penalty converted by Franck Kessie.

Roma striker Stephan El Shaarawy pulled one back in injury-time after Theo Hernandez saw red, but it was not enough to turn it around.

"We played with character, with our ideas and approach," Pioli told DAZN.

“Roma are a quality side, we did very well with 11 against 11, kept trying to score more goals and that is the character we need in such important games.

“We're going through a positive period of form, so we've got to ride this wave, be courageous and confident, so I am very happy.

“You should evaluate the decisions of the referee, I am focused only on my team, what we can improve and getting ready for the Champions League, as we'd like to get a positive result there too. Porto are a very good side, but we'll try our best."

Pioli continued: “Honestly, I have five excellent midfielders who are finally achieving fitness, so I can rotate them a little more now. Playing with this tempo, and so often, is not easy.

“There are moments in a match where you control, where you suffer, where you have to hang on. Roma surprised us at the start of the second half, but that makes the victory even more important against a side that was unbeaten at home.

“The club deserves credit for giving a sense of consistency to this project, combining the experienced players with young and more promising ones. We've got to know each other and it's still early days, but it's a strong squad.

“We struggled against Bologna, Verona and Torino, so know full well we cannot give anything except our best. We have to continue with this attitude and concentration.

“Ibrahimovic and Olivier Giroud are getting match fitness, they looked to be moving with more fluidity and have been training well over the last few days."