AC Milan head coach Stefano Pioli has sung the praises of Yacine Adli and Charles De Ketelaere despite the doubts over their form.
De Ketelaere arrived from Club Brugge over the summer in a deal worth over €30m and has so far not managed to replicate the same form he had with the Belgian club, with 0 goals and just 1 assist to his name in the first part of the season.
Adli on the other hand was signed from Bordeaux in summer 2021 but was left there for on loan for the 2021-22 season, returning to base and fighting for minutes with Milan that so far have not been forthcoming given the competition for places.
Pioli spoke at his pre-match press conference on the eve of the match against Salernitana, and he was asked for his thoughts on both players, starting with Adli.
“He raised his level, this was also the goal of the friendlies. He did good things, others were less good, he has to grow, but I have great reliance on him. There is great competition in his role, I will make my choices in every match,” he said (via MilanNews).
On De Ketelaere, he added: “In the summer, due to the transfer, he was unable to prepare well. He started well, then he struggled physically. Now I see him growing and I also expect improvements.”
Struggling physically, is Pioli suggesting he hasn’t been fit?