It has been a Christmas not spent entirely at peace for Stefano Pioli, who has one eye on the game against Sassuolo knowing that he must get his team to perform.
As La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) reports this morning, the draw against Salernitana forced the management to reflect on Pioli’s position as head coach but after evaluating, they decided to give him more time. The next matches will be decisive, starting with Saturday’s game against Sassuolo .
Sassuolo are a team that have in the past proven to be a tough nut to crack for Milan. The last encounter was a 5-2 defeat for the Rossoneri at San Siro in January: a humiliating result and one of the lowest points of last season.
Even in the very first match there were fireworks: a 4-3 victory for the Neroverde and Max Allegri was sacked the next day. Between these two games there is one constant: Domenico Berardi. When he faces Milan, he seems to spring into life.
The paper identifies four ingredients which, mixed together, could put Pioli back on the right path. First of all, the right motivations must be given to the top players, above all Rafael Leao and Theo Hernandez who appeared listless against Salernitana.
Then there are Pioli’s loyalists, those who are playing as much or more than the others: from Mike Maignan to Davide Calabria, in addition to the new signings Christian Pulisic and Tijjani Reijnders as well. Above all this applies to Olivier Giroud, who in the past has proven to be the man who has stepped up in the moments where Milan needed him most.
Then, a lot will come depend on the defence. For the umpteenth time, due to injury, the rearguard will change structure. Against Sassuolo it is likely to be a pairing of Simon Kjaer and Jan-Carlo Simic, players with nearly a generational between them.
Lastly, Pioli’s great mantra is needed: work. In past seasons, amidst many difficulties, Milan emerged like this: this year the crises have not led to rebirths and with Sassuolo it feels like a last resort in this sense too.
“First of all, the right motivations must be given to the top players, above all Rafaelo Leao and Theo Hernandez who appeared listless against Salernitana.”
If you need to motivate “top” players who hasn’t won Jack in their career, those players are not TOP PLAYERS.
Top players are self motivated.
100%. This is the time for them to step up, if not for Pioli, for Milan.
Exactly. I was coming here to write the same thing. Top players. LOL. “I’m such a superstar I only play against champions such as PSG etc and don’t give a **** about the others, right?”
Yeah. That has “Top Player” written all over it.
Stefano Pioli Go back and remain in this 4-2-3-1 and pulisic should play as an attacking midfield
M.maignan
Calabria, Kjaer, pellegraino, Hernandez
Benercer, rejnder
Chukwueze, pulisic,leao
N.okafor
Yea but if the players aren’t being held accountable, who is that on?
Typically, if a player doesn’t play well you bench his a**. Does Pioli bench anyone apart from Adli? Pioli doesn’t bench for poor form, so there’s incentive to improve. Look at the likes of Calabria, Krunic (before), Giroud, even Leao I would argue (yea he has a lot of potential, but if he plays like against Salernitana, despite his assist, bench him at 45mns and reshuffle the team).
Motion creates motion – a concept I don’t think Pioli understands.