AC Milan head coach Stefano Pioli complained about the officiating and the amount of breaks during the game against Roma, insisting he is unhappy with a point despite the circumstances.
The game had been bereft of attacking quality for the full 90 minutes and then it exploded into life during the seven that were added, with Tammy Abraham giving Roma the lead after a well-taken goal where he beat Pierre Kalulu and fired into the bottom corner.
Just as it looked like the majority of the over 50,000 crowd would be going home happy, Milan stunned the Giallorossi just as they had at San Siro in January. A cross from Rafael Leao on the left wing sailed to the far post where substitute Alexis Saelemaekers was on hand to tuck in from close range.
Pioli spoke to DAZN after the game to try and dissect what was a rather flat 90 minutes followed by a chaotic additional seven, with his comments relayed by MilanNews.
How do you judge the game?
“We did not play badly, but we certainly lacked the right moves at the right time. We controlled the match, took the initiative and then didn’t make the most of the chances we created in the final third with a bit more determination, sharpness and focus.
“We know Roma rarely concede at home, the more time went on, the more difficult it became. It is not the result we wanted, but we managed to recover a result that could’ve been truly negative, especially considering the performance.
Are you happy with the point?
“I believed in the win. Weird match. 106 minutes were played, 49 effective [with the ball actually in play]. This is my issue: it’s difficult to have rhythm, too many breaks, it doesn’t let us play. It’s a point that changes little, but now we’re trying to get points against Cremonese.”
Mourinho said it’s two points lost…
“Us too. He means we all go home unhappy tonight.”
What was missing tonight?
“We lacked the play, the final ball, we lacked a bit of rhythm. Too many times we went straight out wide, instead we had to move the ball inside. We can do better, but to give the game rhythm it takes two…
“It is clear that I want a faster ball movement, but to have a rhythm you need two teams that play a certain type of football and far fewer interruptions than there have been.”
Did you make little use of Leao?
“Yes. I wish Rafa – it is true that he is often unstoppable – had asked for the ball a bit more in behind. When we played with speed we created dangerous situations. We wanted victory, but the team he fought and played.”
What should and shouldn’t AC Milan do in May?
“With today’s game, we’ll play 7 games in 21 days. We need to think one game at a time. The Champions League dream is in the drawer and we’ll bring it out at the right time.
“This week has started well, but now we have Cremonese and then all the other teams in Europe are having difficulties. If we want to get into the top four, we need to accelerate more.”
Did you like Leao?
“Yes, but I could have been like that on other occasions too. He could have played more short shots, but he played an excellent match. Rafa is fine, he’s really important for us.”
“We controlled the match, took the initiative and then didn’t make the most of the chances we created in the final third with a bit more determination,
What was missing tonight?
“We lacked the play, the final ball, we lacked a bit of rhythm. Too many times we went straight out wide, instead we had to move the ball inside. sharpness and focus.” -Pioli
Translates to : “my team is tired and lacks the creativity, scoring skills and individual elite talent required to break down disciplined defensive teams.” we tried outrunning their defense wide because we lack players who are talented enough to string quick precise pass or use individual brilliance with skill to change the game.”
Which translates to: “you want Champion’s league football garanteed, I need international calibre players in all positions to achieve that to be able to compete on all fronts. Owners, spend some fn money this summer you cheap fmucks. If we cant secure Europe with this team, it is because you failed to build a squad capable of doing that and you will lose even more players if we dont qualify by being inactive on the market”
Yes. Those us idi*ts needs to lose money first to start investing.
You have no right to demand owners invest billions of their own money just so you can have your fantasy team.
And what exactly is the point of supporting a team if you don’t actually support the players who are team?
Why do you support Milan?
Because Ruud Gullit once played for them?
Because you like the colours red and black?
Because they have won trophies in the past (including, erm, last season)?
What exactly is the point of modern football fans who spend their whole time rating players like it’s some sort of “hot or not” competition and fantasising about players who play for other teams?
Yeah there’s on way this team could win Serie A or qualify for the semi-finals of the champions league or compete for the top 4.
Go support another team if you don’t like the actual team you’re watching.
Chelsea FC bought all the whole talents in the game, yet they aren’t even in the first half of the league table.
Buying all the talents doesn’t guarantee success.
Yes, obviously the CF, RW and maybe the AM and RB positions need instant and immediate significant upgrades. These additions will definitely make the team balanced.
However, while acknowledging the challenges, I can categorically tell you that a good tactical coach will do a better job than Pioli with this current squad.
Now, as our usual tradition, because somehow we are in the CL semi finals, no-one will criticise Pioli because all we are after is results, we are completely not interested in the process.
Somehow somehow, last season, we won the Scudetto, this season, somehow somehow, we’ve made a statement in CL. But, a proper management will appreciate the result, then analyse the performance,
did Milan win due to tactical superiority?
Did we win with a clear footballing identity? Or
did we win by relying on individual performances, and a spirited belief that it is possible?
Depending on belief to win matches is a small club mentality, like Leicester City, after winning the league on spirit and belief are back to battling relegation.
Sometimes, even though I know we will somehow win games, but my heart bleeds watching us play without a plan. Even Theo is retarded by the day, he doesn’t know how to play anymore, the instruction is thesame, “give the ball to Leao, we just need to win the game”.
This team desperately needs a proper coach and not just a motivational speaker.
What we missed?
Same thing we miss every time. An actually good attack
How was it not a penalty when Mancini pulled down Giroud?
We should’ve taken the direct free kick when Leao was fouled on the edge of the box.
We also need Tonali on ever set piece. Just back him 100%, get him taking so many free kicks and corners that it becomes automatic, and this will give certainty to the players around him who can time their runs and make their moves knowing what’s coming. Sure, so will the defence, but it’s hard to stop direct free kicks or corners hit at pace at about 2 metres off the ground.
Every great team has had dead ball specialists, and scored from set pieces.
“How was it not a penalty when Mancini pulled down Giroud?”
Because Orsato. He hates Milan and will never give a penalty to them. I’m sure he had instructed the VAR-guy to not review any incidents that could favor Milan.
Milan need solid players from the bench we will try to correct the measures in our signing players but saelermakers and junior messias so far have been decisive but we need more improvement from the no 10 I meant the playmakers