Former AC Milan coach Arrigo Sacchi has expressed his delight at how the Rossoneri have started the 2023/24 Serie A season but thinks there are still issues to resolve.
Sacchi was writing in his La Gazzetta dello Sport column (via Radio Rossonera) when he discussed the first two games which were victories over Bologna and Torino.
Sacchi explained that he was very intrigued by this Milan team due to the many signings that they have made during the summer and the change of shape, but he has been impressed.
“In these first two games of the season I was particularly impressed by Pioli’s new Milan. I had said on the eve of the match that the Rossoneri intrigued me a lot because they had changed so much compared to last season and, in such a situation, it is never easy to find the answers immediately. I have to give my compliments to the coach because, both against Bologna away and at San Siro against Torino, Milan showed that they have strong motivation, team spirit and a game which, as is well known, is the best propellant to put the opponent in difficulty,” Sacchi said.
He picked out the midfielders and the full-backs as the players that have impressed him the most in the first two games, particularly Tijjani Reijnders and Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
“I liked the three-man midfield arrangement as well as the way Krunic, Loftus-Cheek and Reijnders played their respective roles. Aided by the two full-backs, who pushed consistently and with considerable energy, the three midfielders often looked for verticalisation,” Sacchi explained.
Despite the good news, Sacchi also made sure to point out that there are issues to address such as the movement of the four defenders as a unit and the space between players on the pitch.
“There are still some details to iron out. In defence, for example, the four have to learn to move in line as if they were one body, they have to move up faster to catch the opponent offside. Pioli will surely have noticed this detail and I am sure he has already explained to his boys what they must do to avoid goals like the one they conceded against Torino,” he said.
“The other mistake the Rossoneri must not fall into concerns the length of the team. You can’t get too long because otherwise you lose the connections between the departments and the collaboration. So why kick the ball 40-45 metres? Better to make short, safe passes, possibly low to the ground. That way the whole team gets less tired: a 40-metre sprint is exhausting, whereas a five-ten metre sprint is no problem.”
“I liked the three-man midfield arrangement as well as the way Krunic, Loftus-Cheek and Reijnders played their respective roles. Aided by the two full-backs, who pushed consistently and with considerable energy, the three midfielders often looked for verticalisation,” Sacchi explained.
Did Sacchi just praise Krunic?
Lol you’re gonna open up a can of worms here lol 😂😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣
this dude told Pioli exactly how to set up the team formation/role wise. I dont understand who is coaching the team…and why he is praising himself for pep’s tactics…
Yes he did. Did Krunic play bad? (Unless you are personal hater)
Personally I don’t think he did, I think he just told us why pioli likes him given that he lacks the X factor…Krunic is one of the most well rounded players you’ll ever see, he has no weaknesses but has no strengths either, his reliability comes from the fact that he’s available for selection and extremely obedient, he does what he’s told and he does it in a way that is satisfactory to pioli, he’s good enough, but he’s just that…good enough, I’m not a Krunic admirer nor am I a hater, it doesn’t matter if he’s flashy or classy, as long as at the end of the day, the job gets done
Krunic is one of our best midfielder, either you like it or not. That’s just my opinion
Krunic is doing his best,
Now I really understand Mr pioli insisting on krunic stay,
The way Milan players pass the ball to each order is not so convincing, it like they are scared especially in Milan own half.
He held back on saying “And the weight of having to babysit CDK is gone”