Following the 2-0 win against Bologna, AC Milan manager Stefano Pioli spoke to the media about his team’s performance at Renato Dall’Ara. He praised the new signings and also touched on what can be done better.
The Rossoneri had a very strong first half as Olivier Giroud opened the scoring after just 11 minutes. Christian Pulisic sent in a great cross that Tijjani Reijnders pulled back, finding the Frenchman who made no mistakes.
Pulisic then bagged a goal himself after a one-two with Giroud, sending a belter past the Bologna goalkeeper. Speaking to DAZN after the game, as cited by MilanNews, Pioli shared his thoughts on the game and the new signings.
On the match…
“It was the approach we wanted: we divided the game into four halves. The first was important. We still have to work hard and Bologna played a good game. Now, we have the possibility of understanding where to grow further.”
The new right-wing of Milan with Pulisic and Chukwueze…
“Regardless of this, I always think that the more you give your best players possession, the more ways through you will find. We still have to work on our balance, but whoever has arrived can give us a big hand. I like the attitude of my players, there’s still a lot to work on.”
How reassured do you feel about the depth of the squad?
“I’m satisfied because when speaking with the directors, I asked for particular characteristics. Not names but specific characteristics in certain roles and they have arrived. Having one-on-one players on the flanks is important. A good group is being born, the old ones have done everything to get the new ones acclimatised.
“I knew that Pulisic was a talent when I spoke to him in the phone calls. I was convinced that we would sign a player with very high quality. He’s also very flexible, he can make us catch our breath: he can play very well on the left in place of Leao, he can play behind the attack… So that’s good.”
On Giroud…
“He is an example, a technical leader, especially in terms of his attitude. He’s always available to work for the team. He’s happy, this is important and he feels good with us. He’s not so young anymore so we’ll need to find a way to make him catch his breath but for us, he’s a very very important player, I’m very happy to train him.”
On Leao…
“I talk to Rafa every day, I try to make him understand that he has superpowers. Superpowers must be made available to the team: if we all learn to sacrifice ourselves, if we all learn to work well off the ball, I think we can get some satisfaction because we have so much quality with the ball. It was incredibly hot today and he did a great job. Today it was 60 degrees in the changing rooms, not 40. We preferred to let them catch their breath on the pitch.”
Who fills the void left by Ibrahimovic?
“We miss Zlatan, that’s for sure. But I think the best thing he has done is that he has made us grow mentally. The absence of him is felt but we grew up thanks to him. If we speak from a character point of view, then Mike is the one suitable for mental leadership in this team.”
What could have been done better?
“In the second half, we could have handled the ball better and dropped down at the right times.”
Milan will take on Torino next and that game is scheduled for Saturday. It’s no surprise that the manager used all his five subs, therefore, and you can take a look at our player ratings here.
It was really great to see Leao working so hard defensively and get 8 tackles won easily the most of any of our front 6 players… and Pioli’s comments about Rafa sort of highlight that.
Sorry not sorry, Pioli OUT~
This bald guy would lead us nowhere with his clueless and limited tactics.
De Zerbi please
Wkwkwkwk . Cannot stop laugh read this comment. Are you sure de zerbi want to coaching ACM after EPL already start? Do you think brighton will allow their coach go after season already start?
It’s weird how a nobody which i’m sure doesn’t have any experience of managing a serie-a team or even have a coach license can boldly say Pioli is clueless and have limited tactics 🤦♂️
But i guess that’s how internet works. Cowards like jred here can easily mocked a top manager like Pioli who already brought Scudetto and CL semi-final for Milan. But i bet jred wouldn’t dare say that crap in front of Pioli face.
Such a clueless Pioli won the Scudetto. So completely clueless lmao.
But seriously, I’m not a fan of Krunic and rather have an actual DM in the position, but the way some criticize Pioli is just a sad reflection of a Milan fan.
I agreed with Milan needs an actual DM. It’s just weird how Milan management didn’t find replacement for Kessie and then how easily they sold Tonali who last season work tirelessly as a DM but didn’t buy a new DM with all those money 🤦♂️
Give the guy a chance to work on the problems with the team before criticising him. I’d prefer someone else also, I don’t think Pioli’s a good judge of players, but we won and two of the newbies did well.
Wtf has De Zerbi ever done in his career to justify a selection to Milan?
What kind of tactics u talk? U lack of tactics. Compare ur team with de zerbi or gasperini tactics!
PIOLO OUT. DONT FORGET, BRING KRUNIC TOGETHER WTH U
you can go support Inter loser
A DM is seriously lacking. I didn’t like the way Bologna easily cut through our midfield and dominate play in the 2nd half. The no of shots on target for Bologna is reason for concern, any other team would have easily scored with the chances they had. Our RB is a problem, too many Boligna attacks going through Calabria. We need to be tighter, we need to impose ourself on our opponents, we need to press a bit more…still too many things to work on. Capello said it, whenever Milan loses the ball, there is a shot on target…so true. We need to move in a pack, attack and defend as a pack, otherwise we will be easily exposed. Sorry guys but if we play like this Inter and Juve will advantage of these weaknesses and punish us.
Bennacer will return in 2024 and he will make a hugely positive impact for the team.
It’s weird that *some* people are saying Pioli lacks tactics. I mean, just in 3-4 years with Milan Pioli has deployed 4-2-3-1, 4-4-2, 4-3-3, 3-4-3. That’s way more than De Zerbi who always sticks with 4-2-3-1.
To criticize Pioli’s tactics as being, sometimes, quite inflexible, as sometimes as too defensively porous are valid points. And Pioli does need to work on the defensive side of things a little bit (we’re still a bit too exposed especially if the opponents do have fast players). But to say that Pioli lacks tactics just mean those who are saying that haven’t been paying attention to what Pioli has tried to do at Milan.
what i regret the most was probably rafa decision to finish it himself instead of passing to okafor who unmarked in front of goal. then both okafor and chukwueze caught rooted for the second ball also regrettable…that should have been a goal. what a waste of chance. but overal this is a good season opener.
LOL People want De Zerbi coaching Milan?
Mannn….. I think I really need to call it quits on this site.
This is just… mind boggling. He’s coaching Brighton Hove Albion or whatever it’s called right now. He’s never coached a big team. He’s a small team coach.
I stop visiting this site for months because how fvckin dumb some commenters are. Then just today i visit this site again with expectation something change. Well, i guess i expect too much.
I reccomend you to take a break from this site and just watch Milan without noise from some coach-wannabe fans.
If Milan ever hire De Zerbi I can guarentee you most of these losers will call for his head and crave after the next name because they are transfer window FC fans not football fans
It was a breath of fresh air to see the first half showcase what we have been missing on the right side in attack in recent years. Leao almost had a night off in the attacking phase. Keep it up
Yes we need Rafa10 back to his top. He & Theo haven’t keep their level like usual.
If they back to their usual, Pulisic & Reijnders play like this, imagine who can stop us ?
So i like mr. Pioli’s comment. He want to improve more. Because this team haven’t show their full potential yet, even with this very good win.
if he wins another game. he should definitely be on probation. Another win after that and hes outta here. We can not have this team winning games this early in the season with such new players and tactics.