Stefano Pioli hailed Milan's improved mental strength as they edged past Spezia 2-1 on Saturday.
Daniel Maldini opened the scoring on his first Serie A start, 12 years and 117 days after his father Paolo's last Rossoneri appearance, before Brahim Diaz's late winner came after Daniele Verde's deflected equaliser.
The visitors lost the same fixture 2-0 last term and when Verde's left-footed strike made it beyond goalkeeper Mike Maignan, it looked like Milan would drop points in the early stages of the title race.
However, Diaz proved the hero to propel Milan to 16 points in the competition after six games for just the third time in the three points for a win era, with Pioli delighted at his side's response in the face of adversity.
"It’s a great victory, because we played well, but not very well, and getting the result anyway shows mental strength," Pioli told DAZN in his post-match interview.
"This is a young squad, but they believe in themselves, in the team and in our approach to football. We must not lose our humility, but it’s only right they feel able to handle certain pressure and win any game.
"The pressure and expectations have increased around us this season, but we are showing that we can handle that."
Indeed, Maldini's winner made him the third generation of his family to score for the Rossoneri, 13 years and 179 days after Paolo's last league goal and 60 years and 22 days since his grandfather Cesare's final strike for the club.
And Pioli, who handed Maldini his first start as he was without a host of names, including Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Tiemoue Bakayoko, was impressed with the youngster.
"The important thing about Daniel [Maldini] is that he has talent," the Milan boss said.
"He has technique, a good vision of the game, but needs to be quicker and more intensive in shaking off his marker.
"[Mehdi] Bourabia was keeping tight to him and all he needed was another couple of metres to get away from his marker and open up those spaces."
Klopp likens Liverpool's clash with Man City to a Champions League tie
Jurgen Klopp likened Liverpool's Premier League clash with Manchester City to a Champions League tie ahead of a crucial game for both teams.
While this fixture in previous years was a potential title decider, Liverpool have fallen behind their rivals this season and face a stern fight in order to secure a top-four finish.
City, meanwhile, can temporarily close the gap upon leaders Arsenal to five points with a victory, with the Gunners hosting Leeds United later on Saturday, in their bid for a potential treble.
Although the two sides have different objectives heading into the final stretch of the Premier League season, it remains a match where tempers could flare given the rivalry that has developed in recent years.
Sat seven points behind fourth-placed Tottenham, with two games in hand, Liverpool face a battle to return to Europe's elite competition next season but Klopp feels this fixture has the same feel to it.
"It's a super important game. That's the one thing not different to all the other years," he said in Friday's press conference.
"We know it's a massive game, a massive week coming up. For tomorrow they deserve all the attention – we can't think about the other games.
"It is like a Champions League week. I'm super excited. We are not dumb. We know the last game against Real Madrid wasn't a good game, before that at Bournemouth wasn't a good game, the one before [a 7-0 win over Manchester United] was world-class.
"We have to pick up from there and react to the other two games."
City could be without Premier League top scorer Erling Haaland for the clash at Etihad Stadium, with Pep Guardiola staying tight-lipped on the striker's fitness, but Klopp knows the defending champions boast a threat even without their leading man.
"When you prepare a game, you prepare all things to avoid the final pass – which is where Erling really comes into the game," he added.
"He is a proper striker, but they became champions without a striker. That's how it is; you never know 100 per cent who can play."
Liverpool face a decisive week in their top-four push, with the trip to face City followed by a clash against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge before hosting league leaders Arsenal at Anfield next Sunday.
Liverpool still 'an exceptional team', says Pep: 'My opinion doesn't change'
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola insists his opinion of Liverpool has not been altered by their below-par season in 2022-23.
Liverpool visit Guardiola's City on Saturday with their campaign all but over.
The Reds have long since been out of the Premier League title race and have a big task ahead of them just to finish in the top four.
They did not win the EFL Cup and are out of the FA Cup and the Champions League.
It is a far cry from last year, when Liverpool pushed City to the last day in the league, bidding for an unprecedented quadruple before falling just short and finishing with just the two domestic trophies.
City are fighting Arsenal for the title this season, but Guardiola expects Liverpool to be back, even if he has no explanation for their lack of consistency.
"They remain an exceptional team," said the City manager. "My opinion doesn't change for one season of ups and downs. Every club can have a season of ups and downs.
"Now, the biggest rival is a different one this season. But with what happened in the past and in the future, they could be a big rival.
"For one game, absolutely, they can beat everyone, like we can beat everyone. One game is one game.
"It's about being consistent, and always Liverpool have been. This season... I don't know why [they have not been], because I'm not there, and honestly I don't care. I don't know the reason why, so you'll have to ask my colleague."
If Liverpool's season has been one of "ups and downs", City's could yet end on a remarkable high.
Second in the Premier League and into the FA Cup semi-finals and Champions League quarter-finals, they remain in contention for the treble.
But Guardiola continues to take one game at a time, explaining: "It's the best approach we can have. It can be boring, maybe it would be better if I said the opposite, but the reality is it's [about] the next game. Otherwise it cannot happen.
"I've said many times: just one team in the history of the Premier League won the treble – the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup – because it's so difficult. That's why we should not think about these kind of things.
"We have this game, then we have a long week and after a tough, tough schedule with many games. The most important thing is that we are still fighting.
"We are in all competitions. That is awesome, that is so good."
Saliba ruled out of Leeds match but Arteta hopeful on Partey fitness
William Saliba has been ruled out of Arsenal's Premier League meeting with Leeds United with a back injury, but Mikel Arteta is hopeful of having Thomas Partey available.
France international Saliba limped off during Arsenal's Europa League clash with Sporting CP on March 16 and sat out the 4-1 league win over Crystal Palace three days later.
The 22-year-old, who has started 32 of Arsenal's 39 games this season, subsequently pulled out of France's squad for their Euro 2024 qualifiers during the international break.
Arteta had been hopeful Saliba would be available in time for the Gunners' return to action on Saturday, but the centre-back is still not ready.
"He is progressing but still has some discomfort in his back," Arteta said at Friday's pre-match press conference. "He's not going to be fit for this game.
"We're doing everything to get him back feeling better, but he is not ready yet."
There have been suggestions Arsenal could be without Saliba for the majority of their remaining 10 league games, but Arteta does not see that being the case.
"We're very hopeful [he will return soon] and he is as well," Arteta said. "Back injuries are tricky in terms of how they evolve with the load that you put in certain areas.
"Let’s push it and see how he copes with that. He's so willing to be back in the team. We're very positive and pushing it every day, seeing how the pain develops."
Takehiro Tomiyasu also limped off in the Sporting match, which saw Arsenal eliminated from the Europa League, and has since been ruled out for the campaign.
Arsenal had another injury scare in the week, meanwhile, as influential midfielder Partey did not play in Ghana's 1-1 draw with Angola for precautionary reasons.
But the 29-year-old is likely to feature against 14th-place Leeds at Emirates Stadium as Arsenal look to maintain – or indeed extend – their eight-point lead at the summit.
"We're positive about him. Hopefully he'll be back," Arteta said.
Arteta confirmed he otherwise has a fully-fit squad to choose from, with striker Gabriel Jesus now nearing full fitness after recently returning from a long-term lay-off.
"He's close to 100 per cent," Arteta said. "He's taken a big step forward in recent days, creating chaos in training. He's in a really good place."
Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 13 meetings with Leeds in all competitions, winning 11 of those, since a 3-2 loss in May 2003 that ended the Gunners' title bid that season.
The Gunners have won six league games in a row ahead of hosting Leeds to keep Manchester City, who they still have to face away from home, at arm's length.
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
