Following the game between AC Milan and Salernitana, which ended in a 2-2 draw, Stefano Pioli shared his thoughts with the media. He stated that there was only one positive to take from the game tonight.
Milan started the game well and took the lead early on through Fikayo Tomori. They continued to create chances but couldn’t find the back of the net. Instead, Salernitana equalised and the two teams thus headed into the interval on level pegging.
Mike Maignan made a howler to give Salernitana the lead, but Luka found the equaliser in the 90th minute. Speaking to DAZN after the game, as cited by MilanNews, Pioli shared his thoughts on the game and Fikayo Tomori, who left the pitch with a hamstring injury.
What does this draw leave you with?
“With regret, as has been the case many times this season. Perhaps the most difficult thing was to break the deadlock and we did it, controlling the game well. We committed some carelessness that cannot be afforded at these levels. Then clearly, we managed to come back, to recover a positive result but it’s not what we wanted.”
What causes the lack of continuity?
“A combination of things. If these situations are repeated, mentality becomes important. If these situations repeat themselves, more attention is needed. In the action that led to the corner kick of the first goal conceded, we were all behind the play. It takes more attention, it takes more intensity.
“We are paying a high price for many things that prevent us from having continuity. We’re looking for enthusiasm, we’re looking for trust but then afterwards, we get less and less of it but largely due to our own demerits and this isn’t good.”
A strong team turns this around and takes control again…
“In my opinion, the only positive thing we did is that we reacted as a great team and tried to win it until the end, we also had the chances. For all the situations, we created we had to score 4-5 goals. I don’t think it depends on the quality of the players, I think something more is needed.
“The positive thing about tonight is the desire to try until the end and I don’t think the boys gave up. Secondly, we shouldn’t have allowed Salernitana to take the lead or get back into the game. These are all things that a great team can do, we didn’t manage to do it and it means that we still have to work hard to become a great team.”
You didn’t kill the game…
“Yes, a correct analysis. Controlling the game does not mean managing the ball backwards, controlling the game means leaving little ball to the opponents and continuing to be dangerous. There were 3-4 situations in the first half in which they tried to come a little higher, so there was depth to be exploited differently.”
Tomori’s injury, yet another…
“It’s difficult, honestly there are many. Fik is one of those who has played the most, he was also doing well. It’s a problem that we must try to resolve quickly but that certainly looks difficult at the moment.”
Have you made some changes?
“It’s clear that we are putting everything we have into it, especially in terms of preparation, individual level, prevention and treatment. We have been working together for a long time and there are many of us working at Milanello, at the moment the work is not giving us the results we hoped to achieve.”
Milan will now have some Christmas time off before taking on Sassuolo the day before New Year’s Eve. A win will be needed to end the year on a good note, but the injury crisis is so deep now that nothing can be taken for granted.
