After the game between AC Milan and Bologna, which finished 2-2, Stefano Pioli spoke to the media and shared his thoughts on the team’s performance. Despite missing two penalties, the manager instead highlighted the lapse of concentration in defence.
Milan headed into the clash with four consecutive wins in the bag and with the aim of making it five. However, despite Ruben Loftus-Cheek completing the turnaround late in the second half, Bologna found a way back and the game finished 2-2.
The Rossoneri missed two penalties (!) and speaking to Sky Italia after the game, as cited by MilanNews, Pioli commented on the disappointing result. He stated that Milan must become better at matching the result with the performance.
On the match…
“We leave with the regret of not having won the match. It’s true that we missed two penalties, but we also had many opportunities to score. Then, it must also be said that we conceded some to an excellent Bologna. This must teach us that you cannot lose attention in the defensive phase, as we saw with the penalty.
“It was a shame because we performed well. It was a very important match to win. We were ten players inside the area and we didn’t help Theo in doubling his man and we didn’t read the cross well.”
On missed penalties…
“It’s clear that Giroud and Theo are excellent penalty-takers. Unfortunately, tonight wasn’t their night.”
On the standings…
“We look at ourselves and clearly, we are not happy. There were many things in a hypothetical victory. It was a difficult match in which we played and recovered. There are many positive things but we showed that we still have to grow in other aspects.”
On the performance despite the result…
“If the match had ended 2-1, despite the errors, our confidence and conviction would be different. It would have been another victory which would have given us more morale and a better situation in the standings. Then the performance was there, of course: but we must try to match the performances with the results. Not having succeeded, we are sorry and It’s right that we go and analyze all the details.”
On the comebacks conceded…
“In the second half, apart from the opportunity at the beginning, we played better than the first, conceding very little. Matches don’t end in the 92nd or 95th minute. This will be a new lesson for our future.”
On Zirkzee…
“He’s a great player. I’ve followed him since his days at Bayern Munich and then at my Parma. A fantastic player, with physicality and quality. He has everything. He’s doing very well at Bologna.”
On Leao’s words after the substitution…
“He’s the one who told me that he’ll take the next penalty. In training he doesn’t score many but maybe in the match… When he ended up on the right it was because he had cut towards the goal and he found himself there.”
Milan will now have one week of rest before taking on Frosinone away from home. A win will certainly be needed in that game, but it will be very hard to reach the top two spots nevertheless. You can also read our player ratings from tonight’s game here.
CAN ANYONE SIT WITH THIS MAN 1:1 AND QUESTION HIS SUBSTITUTIONS?
HE STARTED HIS CRAZY SUBS SINCE LAST SEASON AGAINST ROMA AND IT IS STILL ONGOING
Nothing was wrong with his sub tonight.. moreover he has fewer options on the bench. So i cant blame.
Leasing 2 goals to 1 at 90mins Every coach will do what he did taking out tired attacking player and bring in a fresh leg defender to add more solidity to the back and hopefully defend the winning. But he did not work for him cuz the defender lack experience and couldn’t do much… Should be more cautious next time.
Yes he didn’t need to make the subs. Milan should have kept pressing Bologna until the end not sit back and defend a one goal lead. All it took was one goal and we went from 3 point to 1. It was a stupid substitution and wasn’t required. Plus he played Terracciano more as a right full back higher up than defensively. He could have played Simic if he wanted to who is a natural centre back and would have been back anyway and probably not been caught out for a penalty!
The rules now say managers can make 5 subs, so managers make 5 subs. If the rules allowed 11 subs we’d probably see 11 subs. Human beings aren’t good with self-restraint.
Milan game without blood. Penalties – shame. Thej take two steps before shooting. To much pasive. The difence
was disaster.
Pioli plays better when his seat is on fire!, then he is more careful with his mistakes and substitutions. with an 8-point gap to 5th or 4th place, he relaxes and does the dumb things he is prone to do. he finds it hard, very hard to kill off a game or hold a slender advantage.
Sorry, when you finally, by some act of God get the lead,you put your foot on their throat with no mercy, why did he substitute anybody ? Sure the men are tired, but they got you the lead, let them go in for the kill, great athletes love the taste of blood. This game is the straw that broke the camel’s back. Those two points were a gimme.
I know just one thing, one day you will go and i will smile.
Shame on You, Mister! On you! You bought that guy from Verona and stubbornly make him play instead of our excellent young boy’s who saved your ass! Simic and Traore would seal that victory! You stup**d stubborn id**t
“Bring in the Youngsters! Give the minutes”
Jimenez plays, concedes a PK. Terraciano plays, concedes a PK.
“Why did you start/sub them in ?!”
LMAO!!! This crowd, I swear….
These are kids. They will make mistakes. They need to be allowed to develop and play and learn…
This loss was on the players. Two missed penalties, Pulisic’s miss, and the defender and Leao’s misses from two Pulisic’s crosses. Milan should have scored at least 4 goals.
Sorry, when you finally, by some act of God get the lead,you put your foot on their throat with no mercy, why did he substitute anybody ? Sure the men are tired, but they got you the lead, let them go in for the kill, great athletes love the taste of blood. This game is the straw that broke the camel’s back. Those two points were a gimme.
Pioli needs to show some respect to the Milanisti. Supporters go to the stadium to get insulted and disappointed on weekly bases.
I am disappointed with the fact that even after so much money invested last summer and all those plans to attack the championship title and C.L., we are playing a completely equal match with a team like Bologna !!!
Sorry but only a f00l would expect a Scudetto and CL race after total revamp in the summer.
Subs can work for you or against you, it is the roll of a die. But we needed this win badly, especially to keep pace with the leaders and tale the pressure of the following pact. I just wonder how long we are going to refer to the players as kids. Barca have Yamal, Gavin, Pedri, et al that look like seasoned players…Yammy plays at a level that belies his 16 tender years…we should stop calling these players youngsters and give them a few minutes here and there. Give them opportunities and let them develop.