The AC Milan players once again produced a good performance with their backs against the wall, showing in the process that they still fully believe in their head coach.
La Gazzetta dello Sport‘s Stefano Agresti writes how Milan have the extraordinary ability to start sailing again with confidence when it seems on the verge of sinking. From a small boat adrift, when the end seems near, they ‘transform into a luxury yacht in the space of a handful of days’.
If it hadn’t happened so many times during Pioli’s management, we might think that it was a coincidence or some lucky circumstances, but instead it happened very often and it means that this characteristic belongs to the coach and the team.
This is a squad that has ‘evidently united around his technical guidance’, despite the controversies and rumours – fueled in some way even within the club – that accompany the future of his position as the head coach.
The game against Roma came in a difficult moment after the Coppa Italia loss against Atalanta, a disappointment that was difficult to digest because – in such a complicated season – that was certainly the easiest trophy for Milan to win.
The tension was high, the risk of everything falling apart was considerable, but the Rossoneri beat a Roma team that didn’t play its worst game and yet left having been rather comfortably beaten.
Milan cannot think of having secured qualification for the Champions League already – an essential objective in the eyes of the ownership – but they are approaching the objective with great determination.
In fact, they now have a nine-point advantage over fifth-placed Lazio, a comforting margin to say the least. Indeed, a gap identical to the one that Milan feels towards the irrepressible league leaders Inter.
If we believe that it is practically impossible for the Rossoneri to think of catching up with Inzaghi’s team, we must also believe that it is very difficult for their qualification for the Champions League to come back into question.
Yes but Pioli has reached his ceiling, if these same players want to lift the CL trip but if consistently win domestically then they need another coach. Leao looks bored on the pitch we swim in a pool of mediocrity
Leao is hot & cold with or without Pioli.
He needs guidance and a proper coach. Imagine what pep would turn him into…
In the next 3 games, Milan plays Udinese, Bologna, and Frosinone, while Inter plays Fiorentina, Juventus, and Roma.
Prove that as a squad you are united around the coaches “technical guidance”.
9 points are a must and hopefully inter drops few points in their 3 games.
They may be behind him but the inconsistencies continue. Let’s take the Roma game and build from it but let’s not kid ourselves that Pioli has become a better coach.
Backs to the wall? If we lost that game we’d still be in third. If we lost two games in a row we’ll also still be third. The only thing that’s creating hysteria is the media who wants a new coach as it sells column inches. I get winning is boring but in the future we might revisit this time and talk about how lucky we are to be in the position we’re in
Exactly. I’ve been saying that Pioli has us FIRMLY in third with our CB’s missing and somehow eberyone thinks we need to sack him now because once injured players come back we will somehow start playing worse?? LOL!!!
Absolutely boggles my mind. Which other coach can worn without a Centre back pairing for half a season and still manage to be up there in the league and barely lost out on UCL knockouts