Stefano Pioli made the decision to heavily rotate the team for yesterday’s game against Sassuolo given the second leg that awaits against Roma, but again it didn’t work.
As Tuttosport (via MilanNews) recall this morning, Pioli opted to make seven alterations compared to the team that lost 1-0 to Roma a few days prior, hoping to preserve his main starters for the comeback effort needed later this week.
However, the coach had to use players like Olivier Giroud, Tijjani Reijnders and Christian Pulisic to come back from a 3-1 deficit and earn a draw, while Theo Hernandez and Rafael Leao had to stay on the pitch for the entire 90 minutes in the Reggio Emilia heat.
In short, it wasn’t the quiet afternoon that the Milan coach was hoping for, but he has has Noah Okafor to thank for coming off the bench and scoring the equaliser with his first touch of the game, and Luka Jovic for his goal too.
Although before the match Pioli assured that his thoughts and that of his team were only for yesterday afternoon’s match against Sassuolo, Thursday’s match in the Europa League against Roma had a significant impact on the Rossoneri’s concentration.
At the Olimpico a different Milan is needed, certainly one that is more solid in defence because yesterday the Diavolo allowed way too much space in behind, which a struggling Sassuolo side exploited to score three times.
We simply have to find a way to get Okafor more game time. I don’t know why he didn’t start as CF, he has superb penalty box awareness.
First half Jovic was anonymous, not because he’s bad, but because he’s not the type of player who massively impacts the game. When he got a partner in the second half Jovic came alive. I think Jovic will only excel in a two man striker formation. If that’s the case, I’d he right for us?
I don’t see Okafor as a LW, he’s dangerous in the box….give him games there.
We shouldn’t have taken Chukwueze off either, he had an excellent game. In the first half he literally chased the ball from right wing to left…he deserves so much more.
The rotation in defence was the issue.
No issues with rotation in of Chuk, Jovic and Adli. Musah was ok with some mistakes.
The issues were all at the back with Kjaer, Thiaw and Florenzi.
RLC probably should have been rotated.
Gabbia was the only player who had to put in a long stint off the bench
Oh you’re 100% right, but when rotating why don’t we try Okafor as striker. Jovic looks lost until we are at defcon 5 and have to bring Giroud on. I don’t think Jovic suits a 1 man striker system. We are about to embark on a hunt for a striker, let’s see what Okafor gives us first
The only rotion that did not work was The defence. Going 2-0 down that early tve way we did. Still we created chances all game long and should have won The game. Giroud offers very little but misses sitters that his teammates provide him and Pulisic should have scored on the chance he got
Lol I did say it was Bologna part 2 like.last year where we swapped almost the entire…that game also ended in a draw. (Though we didn’t change as much this year vs the neroverdi)