Former AC Milan head coach Fabio Capello believes that the team showed a clear regression against Paris Saint-Germain compared to the first two Champions League group games.
Milan arebottom of the group after their 3-0 defeat against PSG and following Dortmund’s win against Newcastle United, with no wins and no goals scored in their three games and a minor miracle needed to progress.
The Parisians home side got the opening goal in the first half as Kylian Mbappe produced a clinical finish, while Randal Kolo Muani buried a rebound from a corner routine to make it 2-0 and Lee Kang-In added some gloss to the scoreline in the closing stages.
Capello spoke during an interview for La Gazzetta dello Sport (via PianetaMilan) in which he discussed a number of topics from Milan’s rough form in Europe to individuals like Rafael Leao and Theo Hernandez.
How have Milan gone three matches in the Champions League without scoring?
“First a distinction must be made. In the first two matches the team did not take advantage of the chances created, they built their chances and then missed them. It depends on the technique of the kick or header, nothing else.
“In Paris, however, they almost never entered the area. Only once did they find themselves in front of the opposing goalkeeper with Christian Pulisic who then didn’t make the right choice, he looked more for an easy goal with a central pass to Olivier Giroud instead of shooting.
“But Pulisic himself had found himself there thanks to a long clearance from Mike Maignan. It’s good to exploit the goalkeeper’s throw but it certainly can’t become a strategy, it doesn’t exist.”
Are individuals like Giroud and Leao letting Milan down?
“It’s a problem. But even more than Giroud, Milan are left-dependent. They rely a lot on that wing and on the play of Theo Hernández and Rafa. And the problem now is that Theo doesn’t change pace as he has accustomed us to do.
“Leao is like this, indolent but also unique with his ability to break and dribble. He must improve in front of goal, in shooting precision. This year he also has to review his crosses, in previous years he was more careful.
“But I won’t interfere with the fact that a player may be missing. I read that the transfer was made in collaboration with the coach and that’s enough for me.”
The defensive department also collapsed as soon as Mbappe got a chance…
“He is a player who is too difficult to mark because he has technique and great speed of execution, he knows how to steal time like very few others.
“But it’s true that accepting so many one-on-ones with players like that means at least exposing yourself to risk.”
“But I won’t interfere with the fact that a player may be missing. I read that the transfer was made in collaboration with the coach and that’s enough for me.” — Fabio Capello