CM: Pioli rewriting his history as a coach – doubts become certainties and criticisms turn to applause

By Oliver Fisher -

AC Milan appear to have found a head coach that they can move forward together with and have the utmost confidence in, a report claims.

As Calciomercato.com writes, it was back on 9 October 2019 that Milan decided to entrust the management of the First Team to Stefano Pioli and a large number of fans disagreed with the appointment, expecting someone a bit more high profile after the disaster under Marco Giampaolo and wary of Pioli’s bad stints at Inter and Fiorentina.

However, 20 months later everything has changed as doubts have become certainties and criticisms have turned into applause. Pioli himself admitted in his pre-match press conference ahead of the Torino game that he believes he is growing as a coach.

“I try every day to improve and grow. I have a passion that I carry within me, which does not allow me to stop and look at what I have done in the past. It allows me to be curious and continue to grow. All my experiences have served me. to improve, to be aware of what there is to do and say. I’m no longer young, but inside I feel very young,” he said. The next day, the Rossoneri ran out 7-0 winners.

At 55 Pioli finally became a great coach and his time at Milan allowed him to improve and correct the defects of the past. He has of course had help from Ibrahimovic and the rest of the squad, but he has based his game around key principles such as the idea that players should only be put in a position to perform at their best.

The likes of Kessie and Calhanoglu have improved in the positions they feel most comfortable with, Theo Hernandez has tactical freedom, Calabria has benefitted from a clear defensive shape in the line with Kjaer and Tomori, and the attacking players relish such fluidity.

Twenty months later he is about to bring the Rossoneri back to the Champions League, a goal that all his predecessors failed to do since 2013. With sacrifice, quality, experimentation and with more modern football concepts than in the past, Pioli is about to rewrite his history as a manager.


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Tags AC Milan Stefano Pioli
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