Arrigo Sacchi believes that AC Milan are right to keep their faith in Stefano Pioli, especially because the mistakes of the summer transfer window are now being exposed.
Milan are going through a very rocky patch at the moment having lost three of their last four games. The defeat to Juventus was a blow, as was the one against Paris Saint-Germain, but it is Saturday night’s result which has sparked a lot of discussion.
Udinese arrived at San Siro having not won a game all season so far, and yet they emerged with their first victory in 11 games thanks to Roberto Pereyra’s penalty with the Rossoneri flat for all 90 minutes.
This has seen the calls for Pioli to lose his job grow in momentum, but Sacchi believes that the coach is not entirely at fault and rather he is having to deal with an incomplete squad, as he spoke to La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Sacchi, is keeping Pioli correct?
“I would say yes. Is there anyone who thinks that Pioli is to blame? I hope not. I believe that the most serious mistake is upstream, the problems arise from there.”
And what is the mistake?
“Having bought too many foreigners. Those who come from abroad take time to understand our league, the game, the methodologies. These guys seem confused and the result is that Milan is not always a team.”
What are the biggest difficulties in a similar situation?
“Everything becomes difficult, even communicating with the players because we don’t speak the same language. But was there really a need to change so much? Milan, spending very little, had won a Scudetto and had reached the semi-final of the Champions League: undergoing a revolution it means having rejected the previous management”.
The fans are disappointed and understandably furious…
“I found the crowd’s boos on Saturday fair. Very bad performance. The fact is that now there is little time to get into the heads of the players and convince them that we must become a collective.”
What should Pioli do?
“I don’t dare give him advice, he’ll know what to do. I can tell you what I did.”
And that is?
“I was labeled as Mr. Nobody who arrived at Milan. And in fact I was a Mr. Nobody. But Mr. Nobody didn’t want presumptuous, individualistic, lazy, greedy, unprofessional players. The coaches, today, should make the their voice heard during the transfer campaign.
“Before buying Rjikaard I sent one of my trusted men to follow him for two weeks: when he returned I even asked him what he ate, what his habits were off the pitch. You have to choose the people before the players, do you want to understand him?”
However, the club remain close to the coach…
“And this is positive because it allows Pioli to have the necessary authority when managing a group. In my first year at Milan I had some difficulties. Berlusconi came to Milanello and said: ‘Good morning. I have the utmost confidence in Arrigo. will follow him, he will stay next year too. Whoever doesn’t follow him will go away. Good morning’.
“Twenty-seven seconds of speech, and from that moment we began the great ride. The strength of the club is fundamental to achieving great goals.”
