Malick Thiaw was thrown into a difficult situation on Sunday night in Verona as he came on in the 82nd minute with a one-goal lead to defend, but he passed the test with flying colours.
Tuttosport (via MilanNews) writes how the German defender was decisive as he saved the Rossoneri from conceding an equalising goal twice with two incredible blocks that essentially ensured the three points would be coming back west.
The first was in the 87th minute when Thiaw stopped a very powerful shot from Depaoli that seemed destined for the roof of the net, while the second was in the 89th minute when the former Schalke man stopped one from a narrow angle that also could have crept past everyone and in as Tatarusanu floundered.
Before Sunday, Pioli had not used Thiaw even for a minute, while now he knows he can also count on him with the defensive department still stretched given Calabria and Florenzi’s injuries.
The German U21 international was not included in the UEFA squad list and therefore can only be used in the league, though based on the evidence of the weekend he could be ready to contribute more often after an initial period of acclimatisation.
