Since the early 2000s, AC Milan have struggled when visiting Udine, and given Stefano Pioli’s side have not won there since 2020, there is a need to break the taboo that currently will haunt him.
MilanNews writes how Saturday’s clash against Udinese could provide a boost for the squad as they look to continue their recent streak of good form in Serie A, which has seen them perform at Scudetto pace.
Additionally, there will also be a feeling in his gut to try and ‘get one over’ on Gabriele Cioffi – a coach he has never beaten in his career. Whilst in his pre-match press conference, he downplayed this, it would be imagined that this is something he will want to rectify.
You’ve had difficulties against Cioffi…
“I don’t think so, the question would be completely correct if I had also met Cioffi with other teams, instead I always met him against Udinese.
“It’s the teams that meet it’s not the coaches who play the match. I didn’t win against Mourinho. Milan won against Roma. Tomorrow’s match counts, not what happened in the past.”
With Inter and Juve refusing to allow the other a foot-up, so to speak, Milan have to continue breathing down their necks, even if it is from a distance currently.
Victories add up and breed confidence, and if Pioli’s side can continue in their current form, there is a chance they could slowly creep up on the leaders with the assistance of a miracle or two.
The biggest problem with Pioli has been inconsistent performances. I pray he irons this out in his last 6mos. Can’t lose to Udinese again. Can’t take two steps forward then one step back.
Udinese should not be seen as the low table team it is this season. The number of draws is testament to that.
They’ve got technical quality, they’ve got a increasingly dangerous striker and a lot hard working really physical players.
We should expect to win but as we would against Fiorentina or Lazio. It should be a much closer game than the positions on the table suggests it will be.