AC Milan boss Stefano Pioli has admitted that he is not happy with the result or the performance in the 1-1 draw against Sampdoria.
There was plenty of optimism heading into the game as Milan looked to continue from where they left off before the international break, having won 3-2 away against Fiorentina in the previous round.
However, it was yet another poor home performance from Pioli’s men. Having been dominated for most of the first half, the away side took what was in truth a deserved lead when Quagliarello lobbed Donnarumma after Theo’s sloppy giveaway.
Substitute Jens Petter Hauge did come on and rescue a late point for Milan against the 10 men of Sampdoria following Adrien Silva’s red card, but a winner did not arrive.
Pioli was interviewed by Milan TV at the end of the game, and revealed that he is struggling to take the positives from the performance, with his words transcribed by MilanNews.
On the idea that Milan didn’t do enough to win: “I completely agree even if we could have done it with Kessie in the final moments. We did too little, we played with little rhythm and our approach was not the right one. It was a complicated match for us.
“Sampdoria played in the same way they played in the first game. Today there was less rhythm, we favoured their defense which was well placed. Today I struggle to be happy, the performance had to be different, there were all the right situations to play with more intensity and quality. This must make us disappointed and embittered, now we have to show that we can start off well right away.”
On Hauge: “I hope Jens gains even more confidence, he scored an important goal for the team. It will help him to become convinced in his own means.”
On the starting line-up: “I made choices based on the players who played a lot for the national team. Everything is open to criticism, after such a performance it is not a question of a player or a position. The team did not offer a performance up to par.”
On Saelemaekers at full-back: “I think he has good characteristics to do well in that role there, especially when the team leads the game. I thought I’d attack more and have a bit more qualitative development on the flanks with full-back.”