While multiple reports suggest Milan have no intention of firing Stefano Pioli, the coach and his tactical experiments were lambasted in the media after defeat to Udinese. ‘Doubled the strikers, halved their efficiency.’
The 1-0 result decided by a soft Roberto Pereyra penalty was easily the worst performance of the season from the Rossoneri, more so than the 5-1 Derby della Madonnina loss to Inter.
They seemed utterly toothless and lacking in ideas until the final minutes, when the force of desperation took over, testing Marco Silvestri several times.
The experiment of moving to a 4-4-2 formation only lasted for the first half and was a complete failure.
“Pioli doubled the strikers, yet halved their efficiency. Horrible game,” wrote La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“A hundred technical errors, but even then none of the ideas pay off. It was a team with no cohesion and no soul.”
Jovic had his first Serie A start for Milan and was hugely disappointing, hauled off at half-time.
“Totally separate to the game, as has already happened in other situations,” wrote the Corriere dello Sport.
“Even Olivier Giroud was extremely isolated in the first half, never sought by his teammates. The duet with Jovic really does not work.”
Tuttosport agreed the 4-4-2 experiment was a complete failure and should not be repeated, at least not with these particular strikers.
“Pioli needs to hurry up and not let these open wounds become gangrenous,” wrote Corriere della Sera journalist Daniele Dallera.
“He is the right doctor for the role, he knows this illness, we are convinced he is the best man to find the correct diagnosis and hand out the ideal treatment. Even if he didn’t show it yesterday, seeing as the changes brought nothing.
“Being six points off leaders Inter is not a disaster. However, playing like that against Udinese, that is a disaster.”