The goal scorer Ismael Bennacer believes that AC Milan executed Stefano Pioli’s game plan to the best of their ability as they beat Napoli 1-0 at San Siro.
Against the run of play, it was Milan who took the lead five minutes before the break. Brahim Diaz did superbly to squeeze between two markers and bear down on goal, and though his pass to the right was behind Leao he fired it back across the box to Bennacer, who finished in off the boot of Meret.
The Algerian midfielder got the only goal of the game in the first half and it came after Napoli had dominated up until that point. It gives Milan a one-goal advantage to take south to next Tuesday’s second leg meaning the tie is very finely poised.
Bennacer spoke to Prime Video at the end of the match to reflect on what was a 90 minutes full of fight and determination, and with a win to show for it. His words were relayed by MilanNews, and have been translated below.
“We worked well, we did what the coach asked and it worked. There’s still one game to go, we play in Bologna in three days, we have to recover as best we can, do things together. We showed a good attitude, we have to keep going like this,” he said.
What was the spark? “Maybe we were under pressure a bit but then we settled down well, we were good man on man. Then we waited a bit more and tried to keep the ball a bit more.”
Is there a regret of not having closed it? “Of course we always try to do more, we have to work even harder for the second game.”
