Alessandro Costacurta has given his thoughts on the idea that Stefano Pioli is reaching the end of his time at AC Milan, shifting blame back onto the players for their part in the Monza defeat.
There were some eyebrows raised regarding the fact that head coach Stefano Pioli chose to make six changes from the team that had quite comprehensively beaten Stade Rennais on the Thursday night prior for the game against Monza.
He made the call to alter the attack and midfield almost entirely with Luka Jovic leading the line, Samuel Chukwueze on the right and Noah Okafor on the left. We wrote an analysis earlier this week about Pioli’s battle with effective rotation.
Matteo Gabbia had a bit of a disagreement with Costacurta and his assessment of the game against Monza during his post-match interview in Sky, adjudging that the ex-defender had been too harsh in criticising individuals.
Now, they must respond against Rennes in the second leg but it is a difficult moment to do so given that they are 3-0 up, meaning the focus is more on controlling the game and not conceding rather than playing on the front foot.
Costacurta is someone who knows how to win in Europe given he lifted the Champions League five times and the Intercontinental Cup twice, and he spoke to La Gazzetta dello Sport ahead of tonight’s game in Rennes.
Are Milan able to get to the final of the Europa League?
“Liverpool and Leverkusen are stronger. Against them they wouldn’t be the favourite, but in a possible final anything can happen. The qualities to get to the end are there.”
Is it right to shift the season’s ambitions to the Europa League?
“If you reach the final, and you can even accept losing it, the season is positive. Playing for a European title has value from many points of view: technical, exposure.
“It creates anticipation, makes you excited for the ride. On the contrary, the season would become not good. And I underline not good, I avoid saying negative.”
Pioli decided to rotate for the game against Monza at the weekend, fielding the reserve options. Was he right to do so?
“I know that Pioli does not accept the term ‘reserve’, so I say that the replacements have disappointed. Chukwueze, Jovic and Okafor should have given much more. And it’s wrong to always blame the coach, the players are responsible: they disappointed me, not Pioli.”
Does not pointing the finger at the coach mean renewing your trust in him for next year?
“Too early to say. If Milan reach the [Europa League] final and get second in the league, for me yes, he must be kept. If they let Inter go to 20 points ahead and exit Europe against a team that isn’t up to the level of Liverpool or Bayer, it’s right to question him.”
In your opinion, which side is the team on?
“The feeling of the end of the cycle [for Pioli] belongs more to the fans. The players show that they follow him, recently they have won thanks to team spirit, due to the strength of unity. And the group is created thanks to the coach. Then they determine the results and Pioli knows this better than anyone.”
Conceding fewer goals would help, is it a question of individual errors?
“Same thing as before. The imbalance is attributable to the coach, but it is also the person on the pitch who must be able to make better choices. Who thought Pirlo would become so good at intercepting opposing balls? Or that Calhanoglu could do it?
“It is Adli, Bennacer and Reijnders who need to take a step forward. And it’s the same reason why in the summer I would invest first and foremost in midfield. All the strongest teams in Europe make a difference there. Rodri is the perfect example for Manchester City.”
Is it enough to rely on Leao up front?
“I have seen him grow in his attitude, and it is the basis for improving in everything else: first of all, in finding the goal more. I have often been critical of him, he was considered a champion too early and yet he still isn’t.
“However, I recognise a different attitude in him, more inclined to sacrifice. And with the desire to learn he can really get close to the greats.”
