Ruben Loftus-Cheek admitted that it is a ‘strange feeling’ after the game against Slavia Praha, with AC Milan scoring four goals and winning the game but not being happy.
Milan ensured that they will take an advantage to Prague next week as they beat Slavia Praha 4-2 in a dramatic first leg encounter in their Europa League last 16 tie.
Stefano Pioli’s side started poorly, but a red card for Diouf swung the momentum in favour of the home side, especially when Olivier Giroud found the opener, but Doudera’s equaliser then stunned the San Siro crowd.
Tijjani Reijnders and Ruben Loftus-Cheek both netted in quick succession just before half-time to give the Rossoneri a 3-1 lead at the break, yet Schranz scored from another set piece to halve the deficit and make it 3-2.
Christian Pulisic’s tap-in restored the two-goal lead, yet when the full-time whistle went there was an absence of cheers that spoke volumes.
Loftus-Cheek spoke to Milan TV after the game to try assess what was a very up and down night overall for the team, with his comments relayed by MilanNews.
Another goal for you in 2024…
“I always try to be in the right position to score, I’ve had some chances in the last few games, today I scored.”
How do you judge the team’s performance?
“Strange feeling, you score 4 goals, you win, but you’re not happy. We should have defended better, we gave them too much, but the two goal difference will help us for the return match.”
You have already won a Europa League. Do you have the same feelings as in 2018019?
“We have to concentrate, we did our job this evening, we must not think too far ahead and stay focused.”
Yes players felt strange. Some of the fans felt strange. But of course, there are still some others who only take the win for the sake of winning.
Do you prefer to lose for the sake of losing? I take this result over the 1-1 draw vs Atalanta any time…as you can see “playing well” don’t matter.
Nobody wants to see their team lose, so that’s a rhetorical question. However, Milan run the risk of becoming too predictable and they don’t have a plan B for teams who employ a low block or play a pressing game. And once Leoa is bottled up we struggle to get going with our attack. So what is the game plan if we can’t work around these factors
I thought the backup plan was clear. If Leao can’t shred the opponent, Pulisic will rile-up an opponent and draw a red card!
True…i don’t think any honest Milan fan slept peacefully after the game. Those who did probably bet on the game…but I think there are cracks in our play that is generating serious concern…and something will give if we keep pulling this Houdini stunt game after game. What is rhe plan, I asked this on another platform and some super fans took me on, simply because a win is a win, let’s clap and move on. I will say it again, Milan does not have a game plan, we shoot and hope it sticks. My best indicator of this is when Leao gets the ball and lamely crosses it into the box and hope for something to happen. When he does that a couple of times within the first 25min then I know we are in for a long night.