With Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Romelu Lukaku set to meet again in the Milan derby on Sunday, AC Milan says he'd take the Swedish striker over the Inter Milan star any day.
Ibrahimovic and Lukaku were involved in a heated exchange in the Coppa Italia last month that continued into the halftime break where they had to be separated.
Both players did not receive any further punishment from the incident and are set to do battle on Sunday afternoon, but Pioli is backing his teammate over Lukaku.
"I'd keep Zlatan every day, even if I have great respect for Lukaku, who is showing what a great player he is,' he said, as per ESPN.
He added, "It would have been better if the cup incident had never happened.
"Still, Sunday is another match and I believe there will be duels and clashes all over the pitch because it's a very important and intense match.
"But I think there will also be huge respect [between the two sides]."
