Former AC Milan manager Fabio Capello has criticised the summer mercato, while also speaking on other issues such as Stefano Pioli’s future and the sacking of Paolo Maldini.
If there is anyone who knows what it takes to succeed at Milan it is Capello, who was head coach in two separate spells. The Italian won four Serie A titles with the Rossoneri as well as the 1993–94 Champions League, defeating Barcelona 4–0 in the final.
This current side are a far cry from some of the teams that he was able to field. Milan are currently enduring a difficult moment again under Pioli’s leadership, with no real hopes of a Scudetto push, Champions League group stage elimination confirmed and now pressure on to perform in the Coppa Italia and the Europa League.
Capello gave an interview to La Gazzetta dello Sport yesterday which was published in this morning’s edition of the paper (as seen below) and he had his say on a number of topical issues.
Pioli’s future is in question…
“Now it makes no sense to change coach, but Pioli must find solutions. Continuing along the same line is not good. We need to understand where to act: defence, midfield, attack. Two years ago Pioli had a formidable midfield at his disposal, with Tonali, Kessie, Bennacer, Calhanoglu.
“What it is now is not clear, but the midfield is the engine of the team. I would act there, even if with so many absences it is not easy. The teams that act in counterattacks put Milan in difficulty, we’ve seen it several times.
“I would work on this and try to have a more attentive defense. In the meantime, we could try new tactical solutions in defence. But the psychological aspect is also fundamental. Tactics provide remedies, but they can’t do everything.
“Playing in a zone wouldn’t be the remedy for all ills, but it would help. In this way, Milan could be less aggressive, but more orderly. And at this moment it’s important to have balance and filter. I repeat, the midfield has changed a lot and is now neither fish nor fowl.
“I hope for Milan that Bennacer returns to being the player he was before his physical problems. I would change my way of thinking. In defense without Tomori, Kjaer and Thiaw, there are many absentees. The central players are missing. We need to shake things up, change direction. But sacking Pioli now wouldn’t do much good.”
Milan continue to have injury problems…
“I may be old-fashioned, but I think little preparation has been done to go and play in the USA or elsewhere, as many teams do. Go play now for commercial reasons, then pay the price.
“We should start working in stages again, but when great teams meet, even in a friendly, no one wants to lose. Now they have to deal with so many absences, it’s complicated.”
What are your thoughts on the summer mercato?
“I would have signed two quality players that change your team, not so many prospects. Pioli, from what I read, approved everything. Let’s say that he was corporate and condescending and now he must correct the situation.
“Everything is still at stake. Of course, elimination from the Champions League hurts, but we must not get too emotional. But here, maybe enough with the algorithms.”
And Maldini’s sacking?
“If a management group makes a decision, it means that it is convinced of the goodness of the choice. Beyond the abilities of Maldini and Massara, who did a good job, now it is a question of moving forward, because I repeat, there is There’s still a lot at stake.”
Ibrahimovic is back at the club, will he help?
“He was a champion and he is an intelligent person. The problem is that from the statement written in political dialect it is not clear what role he has.
“A coaching role? The risk is that it will undermine Pioli’s leadership. The problem is not his ego, but what he is supposed to do in a practical way. I honestly didn’t understand it and therefore it’s difficult to talk about it.”
” I would have signed two quality players that change your team, not so many prospects. “
“Two years ago Pioli had a formidable midfield at his disposal, with Tonali, Kessie, Bennacer, Calhanoglu.
“What it is now is not clear, but the midfield is the engine of the team.”
Thank you mister! And yes this midfield is non existent and non functional. 60 millions out the window.
“I would have signed two quality players that change your team, not so many prospects. Pioli, from what I read, approved everything. Let’s say that he was corporate and condescending and now he must correct the situation.”
Keep dropping them mister!
So many gems were dropped in this one interview 😭😅
Bro I’m laughing the entire interview. I wonder why so many saw basically all of this in the summer, yet all we got to hear was a bunch of noobs talking about best transfer window and nine of the writers on this site predicting 2nd or better 🤷♂️
“Two years ago Pioli had a formidable midfield at his disposal, with Tonali, Kessie, Bennacer, Calhanoglu.
“What it is now is not clear” 😂😂 preach bro. Maybe if they coughed up about 3-5 mil more per year on those players contracts instead of having to buy a bunch of new players plus wages. And right now we only have Benny who is the worse of those 4 imo. Plus Krunic was a distant sub back then, now a starter to begin the season knowing very well we needed a proper DM but signed everything but one.
“Playing in a zone wouldn’t be the remedy for all ills, but it would help. In this way, Milan could be less aggressive, but more orderly. And at this moment it’s important to have balance and filter. I repeat, the midfield has changed a lot and is now neither fish nor fowl.”
I think this is wink wink on the injury front. Less pressing and more defensive attention in the counter attacks. Very simple yet effective as is Capello style.
“I would have signed two quality players that change your team, not so many prospects. Pioli, from what I read, approved everything. Let’s say that he was corporate and condescending and now he must correct the situation.”
I said at the Beginning he brought incredible pressure onto himself and the team by his words. He has the team HE wants and declare that this team is set up to win. If/when that doesn’t happen, it’s all on him which is exactly what’s happening now. Both him and Moncada have no shield (ie Maldini). Owners didn’t realize Maldini was taking the blame for everything behind the scenes and choices made thereof. We see it in the comments section here. Moncada scouted CDK, made the recommendation, turns out a bust for his first year. Maldini gets all the blame (never mind all the other the good ones like Mike and Theo). Next time around Moncada scouts Chukuweze, who gets all the blame? Moncada and Pioli. Plus Paolo allowed them to work in peace and without pressure. Owners were clueless and had an ego trip about wanting all the credit not knowing how a football/soccer club should be run.
Both evaluations are in hindsight bro. What if we were second or first right now? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
@Vero Rossonero. What evaluations? Can u specify? Evaluations are always after the fact, predictions are prior
Oh I think I understand what you’re getting at. Yes if we were at 2nd or better I’d say I was totally wrong as I always do. But it was a bit obvious to see 1. Given Juve doesn’t have European committments coupled with their form to end off last season would push them as front runners in Serie A, 2. Inter having a better squad than us (one of the better ones in Europe bar Bayern and City clear, with only a few others within shout) and 3.. we made so many changes to the squad esp in midfield which wins or loses u games. That leaves us at maximum 3rd, imo but when u think of other teams (before the season started off) it’s not that far off to think we’d be in the 3-4th contention at best.
The thing I over estimated was Napoli’s performance. I thought even with the change of coach they’d be better than where they’re at right now.
Does this help? 😊
Hold on. What if Capello is the answer for caretaker?The biggest issue with firing Pioli right now is not having a name that could come in for only 6 months and be better than Pioli, as we wait for a long term solution to become available in the summer. Why not Capello? He is retired, but why not a 6 month emergency stint a la Cesare Maldini in 2001?
Cause he’d need a midfield first.
The words from a coach who won multiple titles at Milan are unarguable. When Capello and Ancelotti speak about Milan, we all need to shut up and listen to them. And any other Milan coach must accept their words with gratitude. Pioli might need to pay for the precious advice because he is completely lost at the moment.
Basically what he’s saying is, what we’re all saying, your playing style pressing up high is too intense and is getting your team injured. Calm the F down, defend & counter and recup your players from the infirmary Stefano…
I don’t know if Stefano actually approved all the signings or not, but the players that were brought in fit his 4-3-3 formation. Problem is, Pioli can’t get his attacking midfielders to help in defense, so we’re always struggling in transition.
But hey, he wanted this, so………