AC Milan Futuro went bottom of Serie C this weekend after a loss to Legnago Salus. Daniele Bonera gave his thoughts on the performance and the standard of officiating after the game.
When Milan announced the Futuro project, there were high hopes for the outcome, and it is fair to suggest that things are not going as planned in the early stages. So far, the Futuro squad have won just one of their nine games, and losing to the bottom of the league has not helped the situation.
It seemed like Bonera’s men were close to reaching their second win, after Davide Bartesaghi’s goal had them in control, but a red card for the returning Fode Ballo-Toure made things very difficult, and the visitors scored three in the closing stages.
After the game, Bonera took stock of the situation, and tried to focus on the positive aspects of the performance, and his words have been relayed by Milan News.
Two negative things today, a defeat against a team that had been picking up mainly negative results and also a step backwards from a performance point of view…
“No, I don’t agree on anything. For 70 minutes great performance of the team, expulsion invented completely because by dint of being good here, Milan Futuro, the boys, so much are young … No! 70 minutes, non-existent expulsion. Ballo-Tourè was in possession of the ball, he moved it with his right, I don’t know if he was beaten by the opponent, second yellow and the match was over.”
Camarda substituted in the 45th minute, is that management for the first team?
“Yes, there was a request from the club and obviously we have to accommodate the needs of the first team.”
Liberali still on the bench. Technical choice?
“Technically we all know Liberali’s value, even coach Fonseca said so and I agree. There are situations on a technical-tactical level that have to match the matches and the characteristics of the opponent. Today they were a physical opponent and I preferred other players. However, Liberali is an asset of the club and we are managing him well.”
On Ballo-Touré…
“I have nothing to say. He did 70 minutes well and he was whistled for a second yellow which was non-existent, I find it hard to comment on a game that was in our hands for 70 minutes.”
On a humoral level, how are the boys experiencing the situation in the standings?
“Writing off the last 20 minutes for responsibilities that are not ours. I certainly don’t want to put all the blame on the referee because matches, as the first team has shown, can be won even in 10. I greeted the referee and told him that it was probably a mistake, I’ve made so many since the beginning of the season, and today it was his fault.”
How do you rate the overall level of refereeing in Serie C?
“It has often happened to me as an assistant referee during matches, even in the first team. People from my staff try to be referees… It’s complicated to referee, absolutely, I have nothing against the refereeing class. But it’s clear that today, in a game under control, it affects a lot.
“There’s all the good faith in the case, it’s an isolated episode. I have nothing to complain about, but today and last week with Coubis being sent off after a free kick taken with a moving ball… These are episodes that completely determine the course of matches.”
Zeroli’s character…
“It’s a step he has to take, I also demand a lot from him and he knows that. This path will make him grow. How long it will take for this to completely snap into his head nobody knows. But he is a reliable player, an asset to our club.”
You were disaster as a player even more disaster as coach, i guess cardinale loves puppets
Sure. Cardinale, who has no input in how the team play, put Bonera in charge because of some fantasy idea you have of him dictating to the coaches. Bonera was Pioli’s number 2, that’s why he was given this job. He’ll be sacked soon enough.
Yes Cardinale would rather have one hand up Bonera’s as* and the other up Fonseca’s than win anything……. /s
The change from primaveralevel to seniorlevel is enormous. I expected a hard start. We have to wait to make an evaluation that has any meaningful value for future decisions.