Former AC Milan director Zvonimir Boban is delighted seeing Stefano Pioli justify his appointment.

Boban was pushed out of the club after criticising chief exec Ivan Gazidis for his approach to Ralf Rangnick to replace Pioli. The coach has since signed a new two-year contract after Milan's revival since the Serie A restart.

“Stefano is a wonderful person and a fine coach. We spoke after he signed the contract and I was really happy for him," Boban told the Gazzetta dello Sport.

“Obviously, I am satisfied, because he's done a great job. At the end of the day, Pioli was our choice during a moment of real difficulty and it's good to see how much the team has progressed with him.

“He ought to stay for a thousand reasons, but above all because he has shown himself to be a very good director. We didn't have much time to enjoy working together, but c'est la vie.

“I have really enjoyed myself watching Milan, as their games have been super. As a fan, I dream of seeing Milan back in their natural habitat, which is among the winners. In order to get there, they have to invest well, but the foundations are in place. I think they are 30-40 per cent off becoming a top team in Italy and Europe."