Calabria reflects on ‘stupid’ collapse vs. Roma and explains Milan’s set-piece marking

By Euan Burns -

AC Milan defender Davide Calabria has spoken strongly about how the Rossoneri were ‘stupid’ to have conceded two late goals against AS Roma.

Stefano Pioli’s side were 2-0 up and looking very comfortable with only a few minutes left to play at San Siro on Sunday night before disaster struck.

Roma got back into the game when Roger Ibanez headed in from a corner and then they made it 2-2 when Tammy Abraham scored following another set piece.

Calabria admitted that Milan were very aware that Roma are strong from set pieces and that is why it was a stupid way to concede two late goals.

“We didn’t think we had already won it. We played a good game, wasting it like that in the last minutes is something we can’t do,” Calabria said to DAZN (via Milan News).

“In this game could only hurt us from dead balls. We knew they are the strongest team in Serie A on dead balls, we had prepared for it. It’s stupid to have thrown away these three points, it was a game to take home. We did better than them, they only had these chances, we have to be more careful.”

It is something that has become a notable weakness for the Rossoneri this season and Calabria was asked specifically about it.

He explained the tactic that Milan use to try and defend set pieces but it clearly was not effective on Sunday night as Milan had to settle for a 2-2 draw.

“We always mark the same way. The first zone line and then some players we mark them man-to-man. It’s a zone that goes after the man. We had prepared for the game well, even the set pieces, to draw a game like that because of two set pieces pisses us off. It has to serve as a lesson for us. We have to improve, maybe not going so far as to concede certain set pieces,” Calabria explained.

Tags AC Milan AS Roma Davide Calabria

4 Comments

  1. We are probably in the bottom 3 of defending set pieces in the league. That was the issue for the whole season and we did not improve not even by a hair might be even getting worst if there is not a massive change in that department we will get destroyed by Tottenham they live off of corner kicks.

  2. Absolutely horrible defending in both goals. 3-4 more Milan-players in the box yet 3-4 Roma players were unmarked. Absolute disgrace. And Tomori couldn’t even hit the ball in the corner without any opponents next to him.

  3. Zonal defending is so pathetic. And so beta. Take your best defenders and put them on their best headers. Gabbia was on Smalling appropriately and Smalling didn’t do anything. Problem is with Tomori and Kalulu in the air, they’re atrocious unfortunately. Also, CDK is tall and 100% could have picked up Matic but had no awareness which was also pathetic. We need to stop the zone marking so players have set assignments and then there’s no confusion when an error is made and it can be easier worked on / fixed.

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