Former AC Milan head coach Arrigo Sacchi praised Stefano Pioli’s side as they secured progression into the final eight of the Champions League with a draw against Spurs last night.
Milan brought a one-goal lead to north London and were hoping for another resilient defensive performance after the one at San Siro that kept Harry Kane, Heung-min Son and Dejan Kulusevski quiet, and the same resilience is exactly what was on show in north London.
The Rossoneri restricted Spurs to to half chances for the majority of the game, and only twice was Mike Maignan called into action to deny Hojbjerg and Kane. Milan should have put the tie to bed earlier, especially after Cristian Romero’s red card in the final 10 minutes.
Interviewed by La Gazzetta dello Sport, Sacchi spoke about Milan’s passage into the final quarter-finals of the Champions League, with his comments relayed by SempreMilan.it.
“Well done to get to the quarter-finals of the Champions League. When they play as a team, they can put anyone in trouble. It’s a well-deserved step over the two games, both for the first leg and for the return leg. They have shown order, compactness, courage. A proof of great personality,” he said.
“A round of applause for the defence. They didn’t give the English an inch and it wasn’t easy with Kane, Perisic, Kulusevski. I was also impressed by Tonali and Krunic. They ran, pressed, tried to counter, fought.
“Giroud? He’s someone who never backs down. He works for the team, for the collective and not for the individual. Leao? He did a little bit, but only at the end. He should have a different temperament, fight more, help the team more.”
Propper assessment by Arrigo Sacchi, especially by pointing out how good Krunic and Giroud played last night after some even in the media gave them lower grades.
Giroud didn’t stop running the whole game up and down the field.
This is true. Only player who didn’t press consistently. Doesn’t try to win the ball back when dispossessed as he did last year. In his mind he is only partly Milan player as he sees his name linked with clubs like Chelsea and Real Madrid. He is unfocused and at times his finishing has been downright horrendous. Has all the talent in the world, but not the mindset of Champion. That has become clear this season.
I would disagree with you that Leao is not putting 100% effort during games because of his contract or beimg linked with other clubs. With that statement you are giving him an excuse. Leao has never given 100% effort or close to it in 4 years as a Milan player. Not just this season. All 4 seasons.
this is true. he is like a highscooler, just wants to stand up there and have people pass him the ball.
I was watching a bit Napoli-Lazio game, you know how far back Osi and Kvara went for the ball?
Never saw leao do that in 4 years
That’s true to an extent but there has been a significant drop off from last season that is easy to perceive. Even the stats will show he recovers less balls on average this season and it’s not even finished. He also has more yellow cards this season already in the league showing he is being more irresponsible and reckless. At his best he is always mercurial but this season he also seems not to be as determined to play well. I think transfer speculation is a likely culprit.
Yup the rumors/contract
So… Arrigo Sacchi is a LEAO-HATER!!!! How about that? Can’t he see that the opponents use two – or sometimes even seven – players to mark him and that’s why he cannot perform every single night?!!! 😀 😀 😀
It seems that Costacurta is also a LEAO-HATER!!
“Speaking to Sky Sport Italia after the game, Costacurta claimed that Leao’s contribution against Tottenham was so little, that it was like playing against 10 men for certain spells of the game.
Out of the 15 players who featured for the Rossoneri on Wednesday, Cotacurta explained why Leao was Milan’s “Worst on the pitch.”
“It was like we were playing with a man down until the eighty-second minute,” he said. “He was the great disappointment of the evening.”
He continued: “I think he needs to be more determined. We had champions who stood up for the plate and are worthy of being labelled champions, and tonight he proved he is not one of the so-called champions.””
But yeah… What does Billy know about football anyway? Unlike certain “special characters” here. 🙂
Are you replying to yourself? 🤣🤣🤣
Hahahahaha!!!
Can’t edit old texts so that’s the only sensible way to continue a story.
Heh – tell me the last decent game he had..
I hope that we sell Leao in the summer and get those who were simps over him go along with him to wherever he’s ends up at.
Leao draws 2-3 players towards him every single time he touches the ball opening up lanes for players like Giroud. We have seen when a lesser player glide Rebic) replaces Leao how stagnant our attack is. Be careful what you wish for. Yes sometimes Leao looks lackadaisical on the pitch no doubt – but Pioli knows that it’s difficult to take him off the pitch because he can change a game at any moment and that threat keeps opposing teams defense honest and doesn’t allow them to push up – which a team like Tottenham w their system likes to do. Yes we all want Leao to be more clinical in the 18 and score more – but Pioli and his teammates (read Theo’s post match comments) appreciate what he brings to the table and if it helps us win then we should be appreciative as well.
Well said. Leao needs help he cant be asked to be mágical every night it’s a lot pressure and makes player not have fun. But he must improve goal conversión to even consider himself a top player. Most of them still play with their head down in the 18.
“his teammates (read Theo’s post match comments) appreciate what he brings to the table”
LOL. As if his teammates would actually say what they really think: “We all love Leao but we’d like him to participate in defending as well. I don’t like to defend for the two us.” 😀 😀 😀