After a good performance against Napoli in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final, the focus for Stefano Pioli and his men shifted back to Serie and the fight for a top four spot.
Despite the importance of reaching Europe’s top club competition next season, Pioli decided to make 10 changes to his starting XI compared to the players that started the game against Napoli which was a big gamble, who has failed to find any real consistency in the league since the start of the year.
To make matters worse, it only took Bologna 33 seconds to open up the score through Sansone making the manager’s decision look even worse, but the team steadied and deservedly equalised through Tommaso Pobega.
Unfortunately, Milan’s efforts in the second half were not enough to break Bologna and the score stayed 1-1 with more crucial points dropped, despite some of the established starters coming on. Here are five things we learned…
1. Not worth the gamble
While it would be incredible for Milan to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League both financially and from a sporting pride perspective, it feels like Pioli’s gamble to change his whole starting XI excluding Maignan was not all that justified.
In reality, it is true that Milan had a favourable draw in the Champions League as they escaped teams such as Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, thus improving the Rossoneri’s chances of making it to the final.
However, for a team lacking the strength in depth and still adjudged to be building a squad that will eventually rival the big European teams, it is vital for Milan to keep playing in the Champions League consistently.
Pioli’s decision to focus so heavily on Europe cannot be justified and to be frank he has Inter to thank for his team still being in the top four after a worse than mediocre 2023.
#ACMilan's Serie A form in 2023:
✅ 5 wins: Salernitana, Torino, Monza, Atalanta, Napoli
➖ 5 draws: Roma, Lecce, Salernitana, Empoli, Bologna
⛔️ 5 losses: Lazio, Sassuolo, Inter, Fiorentina, Udinese
[via @MilanXtra] pic.twitter.com/xQfrrydlzQ
— MilanData📊 (@acmilandata) April 15, 2023
Going forward Pioli needs to play some of his key players. We must at least give some credit for having the courage to make all these changes especially given the performance wasn’t necessarily the worst against an in-form side.
Nonetheless, such a mass rotation just wasn’t what Milan needed and it seemed like the game could’ve been won with a few starters on the pitch.
2. Belgian disappointment
Perhaps the rotation could have been even better if Origi and De Ketelaere decided to show up at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara. We’ve spoken plenty about the duo, but they just keep disappointing and it doesn’t look like it can get any better, especially for Origi.
Despite all the experience he has and the fact that he should be in his prime years, Origi looks like a player that isn’t even on the level of the strikers playing for the teams in the bottom half of Serie A.
It’s absurd how useless he is for his team as he has not had a single good moment for months now. The fact that he’s getting minutes highlights how poor Milan’s squad depth is, while even Ibrahimovic got a start over him when he was fit.
His compatriot De Keteleare has also been a ghost almost throughout this season, excluding some very promising moments early on after his arrival.
He was given the chance to start against Bologna – the team he has his only goal contribution against – but didn’t produce anything worth mentioning. He made 12/12 attempted passes but that should be a worry: all of his balls were safe and mostly backwards, with zero creativity or confidence.
3. Midfield rollercoaster
The experimental midfield consisting of Pobega and Vranckx didn’t seem as bad as it looked like it might be on paper, though in itself it was a bit up and down.
Pobega looked very good although he had a few misplaced passes, his performance and the goal he scored were enough to win him the Man of the Match award in our post-game ratings.
He had some very good defensive moments and scored a lovely goal from long range. In the second half – with the introduction of Leao and Diaz – Pobega also provided some nice through balls for the Portuguese and overall played a decent game in the middle of the park.
Tommaso Pobega scored his first goal away from home in Serie A for the first time since 12 May 2021 (a brace in Sampdoria 2-2 Spezia).
Each of his 6 league goals prior to the Bologna game (for Torino and #ACMilan) had come at home. pic.twitter.com/nXm2FdaRM7
— MilanData📊 (@acmilandata) April 16, 2023
His partner, Vranckx, had more of a mixed display as seemed really good at times when he was calm and managed to turn and dribble his way out of trouble.
Unfortunately, in trying to do some he did lose the ball on a few occasions, but the bigger issue was that even if he kept possession he just struggled to be creative and his decision-making wasn’t great either.
It was far from a horror show and the positive aspect is that he had the confidence in his qualities to try things, though further steps forward are needed to convince the management to sign him permanently.
4. Too little, too late
In spite of the horrible start Milan managed to get back into the game, score an equaliser and have the upper hand towards the end of the first half.
At that point with the likes of De Keteleare, Origi and Rebic struggling Pioli had to chance to throw on the likes of Leao and Diaz to try to put pressure on Bologna and get ahead.
However, the coach did the opposite as he waited until the hour mark to introduce Messias in place of Saelemaekers, who was actually the best performing out of the four in the attack.
Then in the 70th minute he introduced Diaz and Leao, which finally added some flair to Milan’s attack as the Rossoneri were getting closer and closer to a goal, but unfortunately 20 minutes were not enough for the duo to help Milan win all three points.
Pioli’s experimental starting XI played a good first-half, but needed something extra to get the next goal and he did not manage to react in time.
5. Disappointing by Florenzi
Alessandro Florenzi started on the right side of the defence but failed to make any difference going forward and he was often beaten at the back as he clearly lacks the pace to play on the flank.
When he did get himself in good positions, his execution failed him as he was subbed off after 60 minutes, replaced by Calabria. The former Roma man has been struggling with injuries so it’s normal for him to not be up to speed, but it will be interesting to see if he is kept going into next season.
At present he is clearly very far behind the likes of Calabria or Kalulu and can’t be trusted to start in big games. So if the management is in the hunt for a deputy for Theo Hernandez, they might also want to consider a deputy for the right-hand side as well.
I’m not sure why it appears that most fans and pundits alike think that not getting 3 points would be catastrophic for the top 4 ambition. Sure, it helps, but not winning here isn’t the end of the world as people trying to paint it to be.
Also, suggesting that we’ll be guaranteed a victory if the whole squad plays, is kinda disrespecting Bologna too much.
What happens if say, some of our key players got injured, and/or exhausted to face Napoli next week? Bare in mind that considering the complaining they’ve made against the referee, coupled with the recent 0-4 drubbing; I’m pretty sure they’ll try to prove a point there.
It’s a world of ifs and buts, and hindsight would always be 20/20, but IMHO, this gamble was justified. We almost won the match too, when even many are already predicting us getting trashed.
Another point I’d like to mention is that, yes, getting into top 4 is of a paramount importance for our finance next season, but many forgot that we’re now at the freaking QF, with advantege 1-0 against a relatively depleted Napoli. There’s a real chance of making it to the semi final, and even possibly more. Stop looking too far ahead into the future yet, try to progress as far as we can in the CL. Otherwise what’s the point of us being just the ‘also-rans’?
Do you want us to be Lazio? Keep making it into Europe, just to crash out early so could focus their energy back into making it to the Europe the next season – rinse and repeat.
That ain’t Milan. We must aim to go deep into the competition. It’s in our DNA. Let top 4 take care of itself, if we missed out, it’s not because we dropped points at Bologna, but it’s because of our miserable early 2023 form!!
Sorry for the long post but I’m just frustrated.
I agree with everythiing you eloquently said here.
@bunga Didn’t see your post before I wrote mine but i totally agree with everything u said here. The Bologna disrespect is real and REAL TRUE Milan fans will want Milan to go as far as possible in the UCL. It’s who we are. I dont see how ppl can see otherwise
Totally agree. I think we’ve had a few fortunate breaks this year in the UCL after last year’s incredible misfortune. We should try to capitalize on that and ride this run as far as it takes us rather than focus on next year.
I don’t know. I’m not sure you want to make it to the Champions League final and get embarrassed in front of the world by Man City or Real Madrid. Milan is is just not on the same level yet. Especially if it means missing out on top four and making the Champions League next season. It’s just a shame Maldini has depleted the depth on this team so badly that they cannot rest anyone without dropping points.
Not worth the gamble?
If you are a true true Milan fan you always dream in Europe. It’s part of what AC Milan is. I can envision us in the finals afyer beating Napoli and Inter (both legit possibilities) with a chance albeit small of winning the big ears. That’s what and who we are. So I say to dare is to dream!
I personally loved that Pioli went FIFA Career mode on his selection against Bologna which btw we played very well and were better than them. We really should have won if it weren’t for bad calls by biased refs. There’s no gambling there..we should expect all players to be ready to compete for wins. And to think we made 10 changes and competed against a very good Bologna team. Analysts and commenters here fail to acknowledge how well they have been doing and that their coach Motta is now linked to bigger jobs elsewhere. It’s kinda disrespectful to Bologna tbh
We are no mediocre team. Despite european cup is important, but we never make the league waste like a match with bologna. In addition, how can pioli always play cdk as starting with worst player that said dissappointing on him. Just try make him play regular in main team then the reault will shows who was wrong this time to make him benchend.
Couldn’t agree more..
I was excited when I read Milan deploy a B team against Bologna. I expected those who play will take that rare opportunity as a chance to prove himself..
So be it..
Milan’s first choice need rest ahead of this trip to Naples.
What this young Milan has achieved is incredible..
And now a chance to achieve something bigger is upon us.. Let Pioli do what he wants.. He knows his team very well.. Sometimes he made great decisions, sometimes he didn’t.. But we owe him the scudetto.. UCL..
When he arrived a few years back, who would’ve thought he would give us all that..
I agree with point n1.
We can’t just play a whole new line up, with 10 players who barely played any minutes all season long, let alone together, at this point of the season, with top 4 at stake.
Getting top 4 is n1 priority and way more achievable than Milan winning the UCL, even with a favorable draw.
Luckily, the rest of the league is also trash, and somehow, even though we have only won 1 of the last 6 serie A games, we are still top 4. Serie A quality is going down with every passing week.
It’s OK to rotate and give some of your players rest, but rotating the whole squad is crazy and it might cost us at the end
Honestly I think it was worth the gamble. We cab still top 4 in CL with the games left. But we 100% NEED to be in top shape with all our starters v. Napoli to move on.
This was the right call and we got to see players for a full game in action we never get to see and it showed a lot.
Vranckx should not be kept. There’s just nothing special there that justifies the price. He’s not bad but a primavera player is likely just as good for free.
Pobega can 100% be useful for us in midfield especially if we run this semi 3 man mid we have been running
Rebic should have been sold last year when he had value.
Origi was a bust and needs to go, called that one the second we were linked.
CDK is awful and I think he is going to be more like Piatek rather than Paqueta meaning I don’t think he flourishes in any good league. He just doesn’t have any grit, and he looks gumpy. Not an athlete.
Saelemaekers has some talent but I would like to see him at AM rather than the wing. He’s tricky but he’s not someone who beats their man which should be obvious to Pioli.
*can still top 4 in Serie A
There are many solutions available to Pioli, within the squad………. but Pioli.
“5 draws: Roma, Lecce, Salernitana, Empoli, Bologna”
If we wouldn’t have donated Roma 1 point (and gave up on 2) and won even half of those garbage teams we’d still be on 2nd place (even after Wednesday when Juve get their deducted points back after brib…eh, paying the judges). Éverything would look so much better but no… We just had to f*ck things up – big time. Come on, 2p against such monsters as Salernitana & Empoli! FFS!!!!
“So if the management is in the hunt for a deputy for Theo Hernandez, they might also want to consider a deputy for the right-hand side as well.”
So… Milan already have Kalulu (who clearly is a RB, NOT a CB!!!), Calabria & Florenzi as RBs. Saelemaekers can play there too and if my memory serves me right, so can Thiaw. That makes 5 options there. Who the **** would even suggest buying a RB when there’s already a backup for the backup of the backup RB?!!! Especially as we have a lot bigger issues in the squad: RW, #10, DM, LB etc.
And let’s be honest. Florenzi was one of the best players against Empoli and he’s been decent ever since joining Milan – unlike e.g. Ballo-Tourette on the left. Plus he’s the only player on the right flank who can cross the ball.
Disagree about RB as Kalulu’s best position but agree with your point, Milan have greater needs at others positions. For god sake can the club sign a striker please!
“Disagree about RB as Kalulu’s best position”- How so? In the couple of games he’s played at RB he was excellent. When he was bought, he was an RB. Of all our CBs he’s the shortest, and his aggressive style makes him incompatible with Tomori, last year’s good run of form notwithstanding do to Kessie’s cover. We’re clearly more solid with Tomori-Kjaer, which will not doubt become Tomori-Thiaw as Kjaer continues to age out. So this leaves Kalulu as a back CB or starting RB, but then there is the small problem of Captain Calabria…
Captain Calabria will be fine as a backup. Everyone needs to fight for their spot in the starting 11. That’s how great teams are made.
1. Pioli seems to have the ability to predict an Inter choke with 100% accuracy.
2. Worth the gamble.
The B team deserves a 2nd chance to start next Seria A match. Sometimes players needs a few back to back matches to turn on their engine. The players after Napoli Milan will be exhausted. Its the perfect time to let the B team play.
So we are just giving up on 4th place then ?
Pioli is betting everything on the CL. Not wise. This week Juve will take 2nd place while Lazio and Roma have already pulled away from us, which leaves us in 5th place. A huge step backwards.
This is correct. Pioli needs the balance, you can introduce one or two players in every Serie A game but not the whole team. At least secure the 3 points and sub all the main players.
I don’t see pioli passing Napoli to be honest.
Origi: Offers nothing, he’ll be sold or loaned out next season.
CDK: Mentally checked out but youth and price tag means he’ll get another chance- Having a preseason and friendlies with the first team will help, at least to make him a reliable back-up.
Rebic: Works hard and has given a lot for the team over the years but he’s a rhythm player who hasn’t been able to stay fit for a consistent run of games. I think he should be sold but I wouldn’t be surprised if he stayed as a third option.
Pobega: Right attitude, willing to make things happen, will only improve
Vranckx: Not bad from what little we’ve seen from him but nothing to justify signing him.
Adli: I don’t know why he doesn’t play given the state of our bench. He had a good showing against Fiorentina
Despite “Inter chokes” and possible Roma chokes, people are overlooking Juventus’ pending appeal of the 15 point deduction. Odds are it gets overturned, since arguing that they were inflating player values is almost impossible since there is no baseline to value a player, even though they clearly were inflating player values. So by the time we play Lecce we’ll be in 5th place, 3 points behind a streaking Roma. It basically means we need to win all eight of our remaining matches, including against said Roma, a Lazio that is on fire and a Juventus that is technically in 3rd place and remains extremely dangerous. Given our form this year this seems extremely unlikely. So let’s enjoy what may be our final game in the CL until 2024-25 on Tuesday, since we’ve sacrificed so much for it.