Stefano Pioli admitted that Milan could have done many things better in their 1-0 defeat against Barcelona. However, he insisted that the USA tour as a whole has been positive for the Rossoneri.
In their three games in the States – facing Real Madrid, Juventus and Barcelona – Milan managed one draw and two losses. Not what Pioli was hoping for even if the results aren’t the main thing during a pre-season tour.
Speaking to the media at the press conference after the game, as cited by Gazzetta Dello Sport, Pioli shared his thoughts on the game. He admitted that there are quite a few things that the Rossoneri could have done better.
“The verdict of the tour is very positive, because we worked well and faced three top-level matches, which told us something special. There are three weeks left and what I’ve seen is certainly positive. The new players are adapting well, then it’s clear that time is needed.”
“From the three up front, I expect them to score goals. We’ve always been dangerous but we haven’t always taken the opportunities. We struggled to get the ball away from Barcelona and in the defensive phase, we conceded. We have to lose a few fewer balls, the ball must be managed better.
“Pass to Leao more? Of course, it’s a goal to get Rafa in possession as much as possible, but we don’t want him to be our only option and he must also give us the possibility to pass him, moving with more continuity,” he concluded.
Milan now have four friendlies remaining in Italy before their season opener against Bologna. There is still some work to do for Pioli and his coaching staff, that’s for sure, and it remains to be seen what the outcome will be.
Considering it’s friendlies I won’t talk of dissatisfaction of performances but my only dissatisfaction is Theo who to me is in a very poor condition, he needs to work harder during summer, I get you have your holidays but there must be some work done
Yeah Theo just like a pedestrian, he maybe thinking “this is just a preseason” but that’s not a mentality by the vice captain
See the picture of his first day at Milanello (with Giroud and Leao), he’s ripped af. That’s not the look of someone who spent his summer drinking beers.
The whole defense has been poor during preseason, maybe it’s because we don’t have a 6 yet or because there is more pressure on defense with this 4-3-3.
like always time is needed, i think pioli needs to be replaced as well
Musah plays like Reinjders, their work is to roll the ball creating a good midfield display. But we have total holes at the back. All we needed was a good DM to provide assistance to our fragile defence. If Furlani and Moncada didn’t want Dominguez, they could even bring Ricci. I don’t see Musah fliting in 4-2-3-1.
You can have a great presaosn and a cr@p season after or have a cr@p preseason and a great season later.. Its weird..
Will take time for the group. There have been major changes and the pressure is gonna tilt very fast. first 4 games, 3 of them away, it will be hard af imao
Yes remember? When we beat Bayern Munich, by 4-0 in pre season, just to finish outside of top four?
Wasn’t that the season we signed 16 players and we managed to break most of them including Bonucci after he had won 6 back to back titles?
Yes… Basically in that, season we brought an entire new team!
Wasn’t that the season we signed 16 players and we managed to break most of them including Bonucci?
We really need DM that always around the defenders..
Pioli’s comment focus on Reijnders. He already fit to be our Mezzala with his technical quality & tactical runs from back.
Loftus-Cheeks also making progess to be Box-to-box, filling any area the team needs (like Tonali’s duty past season), and he let Reijnders (mezzala) go more advanced than him.
Pulisic shows his good agility & good off-ball movements. But hasn’t show real result in assists or goals.
But the most disappointing aspect is the defense area, compared with others season of Pioli’ era. I think we conceded with pretty easy scenario, in all of American Tours this season, especially when vs Real Madrid.
I think we need more combative & aggressive in defense-phase.
Or mr. Pioli let players to let it slow to avoid any potential injuries ?
o ffs dude.. Mezzala is box to box.. how many times do i need to tell you that?
pioli time is needed is constant NS. we should get rid of him, he is the weakest point in the team
I agree w/someone said we r better in 4231, now its up to pioli to place a right man to the very right place to perform their best (n i doubt pioli can)…
“Pass to Leao more? Of course, it’s a goal to get Rafa in possession as much as possible.”
This is the problem. It’s clear as day that the last season our dependability to Leao was at the highest level. Often times, when we have this high level of dependability on certain players, things gone wrong sooner or later. The nearest example would be Ibra’s 2nd season at Milan.
We started to gear up at that pandemic moment simply because we played as a team. We’re fluid and dynamic as a team. Until a point that we had the most players who scored on the league. That’s when we became unpredictable. But last season, well, we’re more centralized and predictable.
Hopefully with a player like Chuk (and other new signings as well), we become a much more balanced team again.
This preseason was like most preseasons where most of the players who started won’t actually be playing with us next season which then sort of makes the whole thing pointless.
I mean we can probably skip preseason already and just focus on the transfer market.
Ugh. You are so tiresome. Same thing over and over… We get it. You think signings are bad. We don’t need to upgrade any position, all of the players that were here are just great, they just need more time to gel. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.
Pioli will be out of the door before Christmas, that is my guess.
“Time is needed”-you always say that. It’s such lame excuse. It is either you don’t know how to communicate your idea to your player or you have no idea at all. IMO both of them.
You had chance to play top teams and you didn’t give all your players same chances.
That is a good time to test all your players since they are playing against good players even it was a friendly.
The players who are willing to show what they can such as Adli,Colombo,CDK didn’t get a lot of chance in USA. You only field them against weaker team in friendlies.
Did Krunic,Florenzi always do really amazing job in the training compared to other players. I don’t think so. You judge your players subjectively not objectively..
You pick players based on like and dislike.