Following yet another 0-0 draw in the Champions League, this time against Borussia Dortmund, manager Stefano Pioli spoke about AC Milan’s performance. He admitted that they could have been more aggressive in the first half.
Just like in the game against Newcastle, the Rossoneri had quite a few chances but just lacked the final touch. Samuel Chukwueze had the biggest of the game but was denied by the goalkeeper after a poor first touch, making a poor cameo off the bench.
Speaking to Prime and Sky, as cited by MilanNews, Pioli echoed that Milan lacked the composure needed in front of goal after another decent performance. He also admitted that the Rossoneri could have been more aggressive in the first half.
On the game…
“We lacked precision in front of goal. In the first half, we also lacked a bit of technical clarity, we could have controlled the match better. It’s a shame not to score once again, it was the classic Champions League match. We had the best chances, but we weren’t able to score.
How are you experiencing this group?
“We live it with great concentration. It will be difficult to qualify, they are high-level teams and compared with the other groups, ours is the one with the most quality. Let’s think about Genoa, then we will prepare for the double match against PSG.”
Is Milan a more European team?
“We are neither European nor Italian, this is a Milan that has its own characteristics.”
Could the first half have been more aggressive?
“That was the intention, but we handled the ball poorly and gave them the chance to gain rhythm. Our opponents played with strength and quality. We played an excellent second half, with important chances unfortunately not converted.”
On Leao…
“I think Rafa played an excellent match. He’s always expected to do exceptional things, he can even be allowed some mistakes, some wrong decisions. He was a thorn in the side of their defence, he was very penetrative, he got past his man a lot. Then it’s clear that not winning these two Champions League matches leaves us with regret. We absolutely must insist on trying to grow further.”
Milan will take on Genoa on Saturday evening and will then have a much-needed break. The hope is that both Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Rade Krunic will be back for the game against Juventus, which would be a big boost for Pioli.
Pioli u are a useless coach I pray u are sacked before u drag Milan backward
I’m still waiting for all those brainless fans always shouting play Pobega play Pobega to come defend him with his useless playing style. Doesn’t know how to play football and heavy.
U see that Pobega or what is he called is a very useless player with no single impact all through. Countless errors and lose passes. I don’t like him one inch bcus he can’t play football. Very useless, no ball sense and heavy…
I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone say play pobega lol
I commented when they announced the starters and like 5 people went at me haha “he’s so physical and defensive.” Bunch of donkeys
The problem is with pioli,not pobega. You can’t just put a player in CL who didn’t play much in the league. It is about consistency with the young players. If you let pobega play in the league 5 consecutive games, he will perform better.
Any one missing beradi or Orsolini? Chuck looks like a bust.
Yep I was one of those braying. He made a couple of nice runs and did plug some holes but of the ball touches him it’s a turn over. My bad.
Sorry, Chuk was a disaster off the ball again. I counted four times he was straight up flat footed. He seems to have an on switch that only works when the ball touches his feet.
Okafur needs to start these games at this point. I hope Jovic is coming along. Giroud off the bench will be a great luxury.
Rafa and Theo going forward was something to see.
Musah is a monster, Reinjders too.
Today, however I felt Adli was not a defensive liability for the first time. He’s not as strong as Krunic, but man he adds an extra dimension to our attack. I hope to see him more.
Calabria was simply off tonight. Flo is on and glad to see him come in when he did.
Tomori is clearly the difference on the field. Rafa was exciting and caused so much trouble, but we didn’t score. Tomori kept that sheet clean. He’s my MOTM.
Bring on Genoa and please bring on Okafur. He needs the minutes. While I am not a Chuk hopeful any longer I hope he starts too and makes me a donkey again.
I might be mistaken but i thought i saw adli get pushed off the ball in Dortmund’s best opportunity of the second half, but i need to rewatch to confirm.
@Kaka I know you don’t like Krunic much, but even you have to admit we would be better with him than this snail Pobega, I will never understand Pioli’s team selection.
Pobega did well. Its true he isnt the fastes but he tried to combo but leao and theo were never where they were supposed to be so then it ends up looking like he is the poor one to yall super all knowing fans.
When Tijjani played there, after the sub, he ended up carrying the ball up himself. Why? Look up what i wrote before to know why..
These people will never admit it. Pobega was active, running and creating chances and not once. What chances Adli created? Passing ball near the central line? Ans defensively I lean cmon! Adli managed to loose a ball and create a scoring chance for Dortmund even when they were very tiered even in minutes he played. Awful.
“Adi managed to loose a ball”
OMG!!! Adli lost the ball once! ONCE! BENCH HIM! BENCH HIM FOREVER!!!
“What chances Adli created? Passing ball near the central line?”
Adli has created more chances this season than Krunic his whole life. But sure, Krunic is the GOAT and Adli should be benched for life. 🙂
And Pobega didn’t lose the ball? Haha the bias is crazy.
“And Pobega didn’t lose the ball? Haha the bias is crazy.”
Where did I claim such thing?
No, I’m agreeing with you haha
“No, I’m agreeing with you haha”
LOL I’m a bit slow today it seems. All energy going into fault-diagnosing on the new PC.
Sorry, my bad. 😀
Easy bro.
Pobegba was poor but the worst Player for the past few games has been Olivier Giroud.
He’s 37 and shouldn’t be starting games from the first minute for Christ sake!
Secondly Pulisic needs to lose his starting place to Chuks. He was a waste for 60mins but some Fans would rather blame chuks who played barely 20mins.
You can’t expect Chuks to be in top condition both physically & confidence wise if the coach only plays him for last 20mins every game…Pioli gets too attached to one XI even when his starting players are no longer useful
Spot on. Totally agreed. The coach needs to know where and when to start certain players based on games. Not staring adli today was a bad idea. He might not bring the intensity as the other mids but what he brings is composure and creativity. Pobega lacks both. Time to rest giroud . Please do me that favour. Pulisic is not consistently good either.. leao could be way better if he makes the right decisions.
Pulisic and Rafa are have been the most dangerous and productive players on the team and you want Pioli to drop Pulisic because of one quiet game? What are you on?
The bigger shame is you being our coach instead of someone who is world-class and an actual tactician.
Milan needs a coach to take them to the next level, this squad has the potential, all is missing is 2/3 signings and someone to put all the pieces together and PIOLI is not IT!
We need to keep Pogeba away from starting lineup Aldi was much better
Chucks sucks he was clearly worse Milan player today
I feel sorry for Pioli. He has given all his best. And I think, this, season he must say goodbye to Milan. Because lots of fans, including me, want to see Milan that dictate the game, not just waiting for counter and counter attack always.
Milan is not like Madrid, who can give deadly counter, and most all their players are able to create goal.
We just always hang on Leao and Theo for counter, and Giroud.
And Pioli can not change his ideology, so we just see always same scheme.
I very thankfully for Pioli, who can bring scudetto before, and can develop unknown players such as Theo, Leao, Bennacer, Maignan, and even Kessie in the past become world class players. But, sorry to say, Milan must change his coach for next season
Timid timid timid play
Milan should use 4231 against Genoa. Our center midfielders is thin at the moment. Use Adli and Musah as duo. Pulisic as AMC and Chukwueze as RW
Yeah, it a shame to have you as Milan’s coach.
Milan were so boring and defensive. So little ambition to get the ball into the box. If they’d have pressured Dortmund seriously, they’d have won this game easily.
Sommelier Giroud.
He should come off the bench, not start.
There was no reason for pioli to experiment with midfield positions, reijnders never played as DM before yet adli and musa played well there previously, without loftus cheek and reijnders pushing forward, leao and pulisic were isolated, though dortmund wingbacks were excellent, the first 45mins all this was clear for everyone to see, such that at halftime pioli was supposed to take out pobega who was useless, put adli as DM, and allow reijnders to do what he does best, and musa to try and be like loftus cheek, that was going to liberate our wingers, instead he brought back pobega, only to bring adli later, and instead played him in a different position, with musa more of the DM, why experiment so much when u desperately need 3 points, the most painful thing about milan during pioli’s era is they always want to do things the hard way
“I think Rafa played an excellent match. ”
The expectations must have been REALLY low then if two decent passes in 90 mins and dozen awful ones gets you the “excellent” grade. 😀
Just last time. If Adli would start we would be 3 balls behind by the half time. Period.
Weird, as soon as he came on we actually started creating chances and the movement on offense was better. Also, if you actually watched, Musah moved into the regista role, not Adli.
In the fast paced game vs lazio, he struggled with the pace so he likely was brought on when players were moving a bit slower, but then their subs came in and he couldn’t match the physicality and gave them them their best chance of the half.
i may be mistaken. ill rewatch today.