Stefano Pioli has admitted there are no excuses for the performance that his AC Milan side showed against Sassuolo in this afternoon’s 3-1 defeat.
It was an afternoon to forget for the Rossoneri as they took an early lead through Alessio Romagnoli’s header but quickly conceded an equaliser to Gianluca Scamacca who scored with a fantastic shot from distance, and trailed at the break due to an own-goal from Simon Kjaer.
Things went from bad to worse after the break as there were to be no heroics, with Domenico Berardi making it 3-1 before Romagnoli saw red for what the referee adjudged to be a last-man challenge on Defrel, and that essentially condemned Milan to their second straight league defeat.
Pioli spoke to DAZN after the game and was given a grilling about the team’s performance, with his comments transcribed by MilanNews.
After Fiorentina there were still errors from individuals: “I explain that we lacked lucidity. We missed too many situations, especially in the opposing area. We went in so many times and we missed the last step. We had to manage the lead better, the minutes after the goal are important. We made a mistake. If we conceded 7 goals in two games, something went wrong.”
Did the team play sufficiently? “Sufficiency is a term that I don’t like, mentally we weren’t so clear in our choices and when we are not clear it is easier to make mistakes.”
The team suffered more than usual in one-on-one situations at the back: “Our defensive phase foresees these situations, in previous matches we have won them and today we have lost them. It is never the responsibility of a single department. In some situations, more attention was needed in order not to concede the third goal in order to stay in the game until the end.”
On Florenzi and his role: “He is a fantastic guy who makes himself available. As soon as I arrived I used it higher. After 2-3 games he approached me to say, always with the utmost respect: ‘Mister, when do you let me play in my role?’. I think today he controlled Raspadori well, he is growing in condition and is an important player.”
What reaction do you expect and what faces did you see? “Right faces after two defeats. We remembered that we didn’t come from a win. I don’t think the approach was wrong. We had to be better at management. We are aware of our qualities and defects, we will have to work to improve. In the last few games we have done a little less.”
Is it the toll you pay for the double commitment? “We have no excuses, we want to face these double commitments. Maybe go through in the Champions League. Today I fielded 5 different players than in Madrid but we were not lucid in our choices against a quick, fast and technical opponent. Let me tell our fans something: they were in the game until the end despite the difficulties. Let’s continue so that together we are stronger.”
Bakayoko plays confused. Saelemaekers needs some competition for his starting position. Calabria is much missed on the right side.
I have been saying this for long.
Milan do not have a champion of a Coach.
Milan have a Dumbo Coach in Pioli
Milan will never win with Pioli.
There is a reason why Pioli did not win anything in his carreer inspite of managing teams, like Inter, Milan, Lazio, Florentina.
I hope Maldini will see why we did not like Pioli from the beginning.
Milan will just be a just about team with Pioli.
100% agree
The ratings always find fault with the players; never with the coach. We take a long time to build up an attack and sometimes it seems no player wants to shoot at goal. We must learn to counter attack rapidly.
Without serious cash do not expect serious results. Oh, and by the way, considering that A.C. Milan has no serious cash, it should perhaps learn to be smart enough not to let players go for free. It is an average quality team being coached by an average quality coach belonging to an average quality club. Presently it is boxing above its level but it will not be able to do this to the end of the season. I’d be surprised to see it top 4 and the only way it could manage it this season would be through others faltering not its own merits.
Dear Mr.Pioli,today it is 100% your mistake. Question ? Will You play against Liverpool with Bakayoko-Bennacer in the middle ? Yeah,right… US Sassuolo is our nightmare and your decisions were wrong today. No mercy,congrats to the opponents. We are not good enough to play in the next round CL, we supporters understand that,but we would like to fight for the scudetto this season. As a person, which is far away from professional training, please stop Mr.Pioli experimentalize in Seria A games with the crucial players in the middle of the field ! Thank you
This people called fans is so ungrateful. Even Klopp was trashed by Aston Villa 7-0, need 3 years to win trophy and a lot of spending. I believe when it happens to us, you guys will called him mediocre coach right after that match
Pioli has done a great job and deserves to be applauded guyz. He needs time to win something for us. How many years did it Klopp to win Liverpool a trophy. We are not sound financially so let’s be a bit patient. Maldini and Massara must get us a young striker from south America to understudy Ibra as we build a solid team.
Mate, the sooner you realised that Milan have a fantastic squad but with an Average Coach the better it will be.
Milan is looking like not the real deal because of the type of Coach Milan have.
Another thing, what the hell is worng with Pioli training methods??? The injuries are just to many and frequent.
To make it worst 89% of the injuries to the players happen in training.
A coach that is good enough to keep is squad fit is not good enough for Milan.
Injuries are constant with Dumbo Pioli
Bakayoko is a disaster.i don’t know why milan management bought that guy.