After a first half that was deservedly applauded by all the Milan fans inside the San Siro, a second half followed that can only be described as a capitulation.
This is how Sunday’s derby for Stefano Pioli’s Milan can be summed up, having dominated the opening 45 minutes and gone 2-0 up just before the break, but then inexplicably losing focus to concede four times and eventually lose 4-2.
After 45 minutes it looked as though the Rossoneri were heading for a rare ‘away’ derby success as goals from Ante Rebic and Zlatan Ibrahimovic had put them in a commanding position.
However, Inter came out and drew themselves level soon after the break, scoring first through Marcelo Brozovic and then through Matias Vecino.
Stefan De Vrij made it 3-2 with a header from a corner before Romelu Lukaku added a fourth and final goal deep into injury time.
After a first half like that, a second half like the one that happened was really unthinkable. As Monday’s edition of Tuttosport notes (via MilanNews.it), Pioli seemed bitter after the game, as seen through his post-match comments.
“The first half was born from the strategy that we prepared in the week. We played very well and the double advantage was perhaps little for what we produced,” he said.
“Then there were the two episodes in which we had to do much better. The two goals taken in two or three minutes changed the game. There was too much carelessness. We penalised an important performance.”
Pioli’s disappointment was also combined with plenty of anger though.
“I am angry because there were specific tasks in the defensive phase. We had our best performance of the year, frustrated by the failure to respect the defensive deliveries. We could have equalised when Ibra’s hit the post.
“I am convinced of the quality of my team, but Brozovic cannot be left alone at the edge of the area or an offside on the Sanchez cut in the area.”
