Stefano Pioli spoke to the media after AC Milan’s win on penalties against Monza and among other things, he shared his thoughts on the midfield. It’s been a hot topic and the manager believes the department is complete.
The Trofeo Silvio Berlusconi clash between Milan and Monza ended 1-1 after 90 minutes and thus went straight to penalties. The Rossoneri converted all six of their penalties and the home side missed their final one, with the shoot-out ending 5-6.
Speaking to Mediaset after the game, as cited by SempreMilan.it, Pioli shared his thoughts on the game, the upcoming season, the formation choice and the midfield department which has been a hot topic.
On the goals…
“We won’t hide it, we certainly want to win the first game of the season. The lads are right to be ambitious, we have to do it from the first round to get off to a good start.
On the game…
“We played well on the pitch against a team that can play very well. There are positive things but we need more concrete outcomes of what we create. The next friendly matches will give us the opportunity to catch up both physically and mentally and above all tactically, because there are so many new players who need to get into the mechanisms.”
On the ambitions…
“We have been a competitive team for three years. There are 6-7 teams that have the ambition of being able to finish in the top 4, we are among them. The players who have arrived are young but already experienced, though they will need time to integrate. I have the right players to play the football we like, especially the first few games will be fundamental.”
On the midfield and Krunic rumours…
“I think that with the arrival of Musah, we are complete in midfield. I hope to continue with these players. Reijnders is intelligent, Loftus-Cheek is a player of quality and physicality. Musah is an aggressive player, then we also have Pobega and Krunic. They all have different characteristics that complement each other.
“We can play in several ways, Chukwueze has arrived who can give us 1v1 strength on the flank, Pulisic can be an attacking midfielder, Okafor can also be a centre-forward and second striker. I have flexible players.”
Milan will face Trento tomorrow at Milanello and will then have a few days of training before taking on ES Sahel and Novara at the weekend. Today’s game was a step in the right direction from a physical point of view, with the season opener approaching.
Please Fenerbahce get Krunic out of our Club. We need Dominguez for the DM role. In fact we won’t even mind if you take Pioli win him. We don’t want to lose our key players because of no UCL football.
If you don’t like our players go support another club.
Yeah I can expect this kind of response only from you. The one who said Krunic is as good as Ambrosini.
I’m baffled by this guy. He probably thinks Pobega’s Gattuso and Messias is as good as Donadoni…
Krunic is trash dude, I’m beginning to think you’re in love with him too. Is your real name Stefano?
Pioli rates Musah more highly than Krunic based on the statement i realized. I am sure he’s been warned to play Musah as a No 6.
From this, it appears hair’s male crush is not so highly favored anymore
No. Milan didn’t sign Musah for the bench. So that means Krunic starting position just evaporated.
Gtfo zoomer banter era fraud
You are not a true Milan fan
You’ve never even seen Milan win CL
Gerry, Friulani, Moncada are operating like Li, Fassone and Mirabelli
Putting too much faith in the shit coach(Pioli now, Montella back then)
The first thing they should have done is sacked Pioli
Milan is a club worthy of World Class Managers like Zidane, Klopp, Tuchel
Shouldn’t stick to incompetent Italian managers of nowadays with the exception of maybe De Zerbi
Gerry, Friulani, Moncada are operating like Li, Fassone and Mirabelli
Putting too much faith in the **** coach(Pioli now, Montella back then)
The first thing they should have done is sacked Pioli
Milan is a club worthy of World Class Managers like Zidane, Klopp, Tuchel
Shouldn’t stick to incompetent Italian managers of nowadays with the exception of maybe De Zerbi
Pioli won the scudetto, you simpleton. I’m not a fan of him playing Krunic but to even make that comparison. Outrageous. And the guy was basically making encouraging statements about Musah.
And these transfers are nothing like 2017.
Yeah but Pioli has problems in making our team play football.
Sure we won the Scudetto but in reality we suddenly found a tighter defense and Leao had an unbelievable season while Inter slipped. A win nonetheless and well done Pioli for that!
However, when we get pressed hard by the opponents there is no structured passing play except long balls towards Giroud who has to act like a target.
This is a huge problem and hopefully Pioli can adjust these things since he, right now at least, don’t have a lot of injuries in the squad.
You are right man
Looks like Krunic is staying….
It will of course take time for everyone to settle in. I do hope nobody does anything stupid before Pioli is given time to work with these guys.
He’s only 1/3 coaches in Serie A to have won the Scudetto and we sacked one of the others (and then he went on to win back to backs….).
Lol he rated Musah over Krunic bruh. Krunic is leaving. “We also have Krunic” sounds like a total afterthought. Say bye to your man crush. My sympathies.
Please pack this thrashes out of the team
Pioli, Tomori and Krunic
Krunic is definitely staying. You wouldn’t give a man the captains band if he was going to another team.lets just hope he isn’t a guaranteed starter. I don’t like him in that position at all.
Seems likes he rates Musah over Krunic though and seems like he’s leaning to use Musah as a No 6. Like with his national team.
“Musah is an aggressive player, then we also have Pobega and Krunic.”
This doesn’t sound like a ringing endorsement for Krunic. More like an afterthought.
Delusional
Krunic is his favorite
Delusional? You want to sack someone based off a friendly game. F off.
He rated Musah more highly in his talk. “We also have Krunic ” doesn’t sound like a ringing endorsement.
I think Krunic is leaving.
In fact, this indicates something. Pioli will intend to play Musah as a No 6. A DM. Krunic is sliding down the pecking order. Even mentioned after Pobega. Lol.
To sum it up. Milan didn’t sign Musah for the bench. Krunic is out folks.
I can’t wait for Pioli to be gone. Our goal is to win the first game? To finish in the top 4? He’s a typical mid-table coach, nothing more. He has no great ideas, in fact he has no idea how to attack. Now that he has the players, he has no excuses, but will fail anyway. My prediction is that he will be fired by December.
I think based on previous statements that he still sees Reijdnier as a more appropriate holding given his distribution skills…over musah. People keep mentioning it, but nothing from the team has indicated musah is considered anything but an 8. He may experiment with both…I believe Napoli switches out holding/8 based on matchups at times. Given RLC role as a 10/second striker, they will be tested physically regardless as it will resemble a 4231.
Musah plays as a DM for his national team. There is no way Musah is sitting on the bench after the investment and time we took to get him.
“I think that with the arrival of Musah, we are complete in midfield. I hope to continue with these players. Reijnders is intelligent, Loftus-Cheek is a player of quality and physicality. Musah is an aggressive player, then we also have Pobega and Krunic.”
As expected, Adli is not even mentioned. Just let the player go and we can get the budget to be allocated in somewhere else.
It only took a year after the first report of tonali possibly leaving and being replaced by musah. thats not that long…
I didn’t say they were going to sit Musah though, I just said there has been no indication from the team that they are expecting to play him in that role. There has also been no indication from the team that they were gunna play RLC as a 10 during the preseason so I suppose anything is possible.
I think you’re going to be entirely mistaken.
Piolet you are all time stupid coach with your favorite Krunich. Must be released immediately. !!!! Krunich must be kicked out of Milan.
Sack this goddamn fraud already
Only managed to beat lowly Monza 1-1 on penalties
He keeps his boyfriend Krunic at any cost even though we could have made some money by selling him to Turkey
I’ve been critical of Krunic plenty, but this is just a friendly and you don’t sack anyone based off that.
When looking through the comments I see people calling players fraud and trash. Comments like these don’t belong here. Or anywhere. Show respect when you comment.
Hey guys, I have read almost all the comments and most of them are comments about Pioli’s favorite player. to be honest i have one sentances about him. I’m really surprised by Pioli’s tactics and his dependence on Krunic, from my point of view Pioli’s level of football is very low he has proved it day by day. he doesn’t deserve to be the manager of a legendary club like Milan. now about his favorite player, I can describe him in one sentence, Krunic has never done anything important for this club ever! I can say more. If I were Milan’s coach, I wouldn’t even (I repeat again) even let him into San siro watching match. it’s my view of Krunic
I took my time and I have gone through every comment on here and I do really wish the team plays without Krunic twice or so; so that we can see the complete new signings in the midfield atlest to know what krunic actually brings to the table this new season as for the previous seasons Krunic had been a useful sub.
Also I think Pioli is scared of playing complete strangers in the upcoming season…we are not a championship club and if Ben wasn’t injured I’m certain Krunic would be on the first flight to wherever for any amount.
Inter for example are complimenting their midfield with some new players irrespective of the few that are out unlike us that we have one of our best injured and the other sold….now leaving us with the subs which is a complete risk for the time being and blending together would take time so it’s not really a thing of romance between Pioli n Krunic
That comment is the beginning of the end for Pioli
So many plastic fans. Incredible.
I’ve been a defender of Pioli. I think he has overachieved with the depleted squads that Maldini gave him the last 2 seasons, but his love affair with Krunic is going to cost him his job. There is no way this guy can be starting for this team. There is nothing he can do on a football pitch that Musah can’t already do better at age 20. Is this really the hill Pioli wants to die on? Sinking or swimming with Rade Krunic? I hope not.
Let’s wait and see Musah on the pitch. We definitely need players, especially in midfield who can offer effective pressing. This way of playing is especially needed in the Champions League and also in the domestic league when playing against certain so called big teams. On the other hand we have to be careful when encountering the so called small teams ( I don’t know how many of them are left in the Italian league), not to be caught by counter attacks. What I can say on Krunic is that he was more useful when not used as a holding midfielder. We don’t have much time left, but we wait and see. Always Forza Milan and please our club does not deserve certain words.