Stefano Pioli admits he ‘expected better’ from Milan after their 3-0 defeat to Lazio, but he trusts they’ll fight their way to a top four finish.
Joaquin Correa bagged a brace before Ciro Immobile’s late third rounded out the scoreline, for a second consecutive Rossoneri defeat.
“As often happens in these games, our opponents did better in the decisive incidents,” Pioli told Sky Sport Italia.
Stefano Pioli admits he ‘expected better’ from Milan after their 3-0 defeat to Lazio, but he trusts they’ll fight their way to a top four finish.
Joaquin Correa bagged a brace before Ciro Immobile’s late third rounded out the scoreline, for a second consecutive Rossoneri defeat.
“As often happens in these games, our opponents did better in the decisive incidents,” Pioli told Sky Sport Italia.
“We played better in the first half and had the chances to equalise. I expected more from the team, because we have the qualities to do better, but after the second goal it became more complicated.”
The second goal was extremely controversial, as Lucas Leiva seemed to foul Hakan Calhanoglu in the build-up, but the referee stood by his original decision even after viewing it on VAR.
“I honestly do not understand how this wasn’t given as a foul on Calhanoglu. He went to see it again, from the replay it is impossible to say Leiva doesn’t catch Calhanoglu and miss the ball entirely.”
Milan now lose second place to Atalanta and are in joint third with Juventus and Napoli on 66 points.
“We are a strong team and we need to react quickly, because this is a painful defeat. It’s not an issue of fear, but if you go down early against a side like Lazio, you allow them to defend and counter, which is their wheelhouse.
“We needed to either keep it on level terms or try to take the lead. We had chances, we were very close to getting back into it, and the second goal made it even more difficult.
“Unfortunately, the third goal is the kind of incident that’s happening a lot lately. We have the defence set out and still concede. We knew it was dangerous to let quick strikers like Immobile and Correa take us on for pace, so some preventative marking evidently didn’t work.
“We need to do better in order to end our season on the right note, because we don’t want it to end with disappointment. The players are as disappointed as I am, because it was an important match. It wasn’t an awful performance, but we do need to do better.
“This complicates the situation, because the other teams are stepping up a gear, but we’re still there and have to get back on track as quickly as possible.
“I know that my team is intelligent and, despite the tender age, also with character. I trust the team will give its best. There’s not much time left, the points weigh double at the moment and we have the chance to prove we too are a great team.”
Zlatan Ibrahimovic was injured again today after missing the 2-1 home defeat to Sassuolo, will he be available against Benevento?
“Zlatan missed a lot of games this season, unfortunately that’s what our season has been like. We’ll see over the next few days if he is available.”