Stefano Pioli feels Milan’s performance was not worthy of a 3-0 defeat to Inter and reacts bitterly to the controversial disallowed goal. ‘Samir Handanovic doesn’t even complain!’
The Rossoneri knew a score draw would be enough to qualify, as the first leg was 0-0 and tonight they were technically the ‘away’ team, with away goals still valid in this tournament.
However, Lautaro Martinez opened the scoring within four minutes and completed his brace by half-time.
Robin Gosens also got a late tap-in from the Marcelo Brozovic assist, but with the score still at 2-0, Ismael Bennacer’s goal was controversially disallowed, as the Pierre Kalulu offside position was considered to be interfering with play.
Overall, Milan had more shots on target than Inter, but were denied by Samir Handanovic and an Ivan Perisic goal-line clearance.
“We wanted to win, we didn’t achieve that, we were certainly up against a strong opponent. I don’t think the performance was worthy of a 3-0, but Inter scored at the right times,” Pioli told Mediaset.
“They scored early, we had the chances to get back in, naturally going 2-1 down would’ve created a different match and given us more momentum, so that was a difficult moment.
“When you concede three goals, it means the opposition played with more quality and we made errors. We didn’t lack for effort, intensity or chances, but it wasn’t our night. We wanted to reach the Final, but this is a great opportunity for the team to prove themselves up to the task and throw everything into the Serie A race, because we have everything it takes to go all the way.”
The verdict on the Bennacer goal was going to cause controversy regardless, as Kalulu was offside, but perhaps not covering Samir Handanovic’s view of the shot.
“Look at Handanovic’s reaction. He doesn’t even complain,” said Pioli after watching the replays.
“Tell me a goalkeeper who doesn’t react after conceding if a Milan player had damaged his view. Instead, he does nothing, they only complained about a handball that wasn’t even there. Come on! Come on…”
The refereeing expert in the studio admitted it was ‘very dubious’ and that Kalulu effectively did not cover Handanovic’s view.
In fact, if anyone was interfering with Handanovic’s view, it was his own teammates.
Pioli was so furious that he walked off without taking any further questions.
Milan thought they were back in it, but Bennacer’s goal was ruled out! ❌
The Inter players appealed for hand ball, but in the end it was offside that saved them 👀 pic.twitter.com/FcSJFN7KVg
— Premier Sports (@PremierSportsTV) April 19, 2022
he ran behind everybody so they didnt see it. he also didnt mention the foul that was not called that started their whole attack
Inter thoroughly deserved the win as they are superior in terms of personnel and leadership. Come on get real look at the Inter team and the bench. Look across and you have Castillejo, Diaz, Krunic and Messias. Even the Milan first 11 are terrible. Calabria, Bennacer and Kessie have no business wearing that shirt but at least Franck is going to sit on the Barca bench. It also does not help when Marotta has shares in VAR lol.
Inter were superior in the first half, but boy, is Inter not taking chances and rigging each and every game in their favor. Yet another disgraceful performance by the ref tonight, unjustly penalizing Milan
Anyone who says the goal was disallowed correctly needs their head examined. It was a good goal, Handanovich didn’t see it because inter players blocked his view. It is what it is – ref gets paid now by Marota and it’s all good. Most Milan players aren’t Serie A levels – some I would say aren’t even Serie B level and they completely outplayed inter, that says a lot. Bring in the Arab money in the summer and strengthen the team – I can’t wait to see what Maldini can do with big money seeing him out together a team that’s leading Serie A with very limited budget.
It was a good goal. The regret is that it could have been a beautiful game of football in the last 20 minutes, a true advertisement for Italian football, which was ruined by that decision.
@kieran please give up, leadership? First half Handanovic was the best Inter player and they have a good bit of luck, should end in a tie. In the second half, a terrible call disallowing a goal, and don’t start it was a fould in the build up because the goal was from a corner kick!
@Andy keep crying on every post about the match. How come nobody is talking about the foul on inter player that lead to that attack. I was surprised to read pioli post match comment.
@Chris, no one is talking about it because there was no foul. Simple.
@ SMH The actual players who play for the Serie A leaders are not Serie A level? I know football is about opinions and everyone thinks it’s like a computer game but you seem to have completely lost touch with reality.
Susy is such a sore loser. Inter scored three, eat that up and take it to your chin. You never have good words for the Nerazzurri.
@Maldinis heir – really dude? Show me a player on this team that is comparable to Maldini, Nesta, Baresi, Inzaghi, Sheva, Seedorf and so on – none of them come even close. They are cheap players that Milan picked up and somehow managed to end up in first place.
It would have been a goal for 2-1 not to win the game – stop speaking as if that goal caused a Milan loss – pathetic, just using it as an excuse.
Did you know Pioli actually left the interview after he saw the replay? LOL
inter won 3-1 that’s enough
why should they complain about disallowed goal as they only have one shoot that worthy of goal.. it could be game momentum change or not change anything at all.. Inter can still won by 2-1, or even more with same possiblity as Milan get equalizer or win the tie..
Inter’s season is never complete without humiliating Milan at least once
Pioli is on fire.
I write as a milan fan – let us be honest about it.
Milan did not deserve to win yesterday night. Inter were superior in all respects and milan were hardly ever in the game.
Milan has no player who can score goals and in the last few weeks it was Tomori & Co who saved us from defeat. Yesterday Tomori & Co had a night off ….. and with pensioner Giroud and lightweight Leao unable to score ….. what else can we expect?
Beautiful italian logic.
If he does not complain then it cannot be judged a foul.
@Jakes That is not the logic. He did not complain because it was not a foul. His vision was blocked by Inter players (if at all), not Kalulu
@ Smh I don’t need to show you anything. It is not my opinion that Milan are top of Serie A. It is fact. Even if they finish second it remains a fact that these players are Serie A standard when they are in fact playing in Serie and in a team that finished 1st or 2nd. You keep mistaking your opinion for facts.
Winners celebrate, loosers explain!
@Maldinis Heir do you really think Milan will end up on top? We all know Inter has a game in hand.