Pioli responds to idea of position change for Saelemaekers and Milan’s over-reliance on individuals

AC Milan's Italian coach Stefano Pioli (C) speaks with AC Milan's Belgian midfielder Alexis Saelemaekers (L) at the end of the UEFA Champions League first round Group B football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and AC Milan at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid on November 24, 2021. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP) (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO/AFP via Getty Images)

AC Milan head coach Stefano Pioli believes that his team are not too reliant on individual brilliance and spoke about the idea of Alexis Saelemaekers being tried in a different role.


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Pioli spoke to the reporters who gathered at Milanello on the eve of the game about a number of different topics including the recent struggles in the league and the threat that Inter pose, while he also discussed the notion that his side rely too much on individuals, with his comments transcribed by MilanNews and translated below.

“That has never been part of our mentality and this is not happening, but in the last two games we have dropped in terms of quality. We play as a team, trying to exploit the characteristics of individuals because we have strong players,” he said.

There has also been the suggestion floated by fans and pundits that Pioli should try fielded Saelemaekers in a central role both to get the best out of the Belgian but also to give Brahim Diaz a chance to regain his form without the pressure of being the only No.10.

On that idea, Pioli said: “Alexis also knows how to play in the middle of the field. He has to find a bit more quality to make decisive plays.”

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