Stefano Pioli identifies where Milan are going wrong after their scraped 1-1 draw away to Udinese. ‘We concede silly goals because we lose the ball and make wrong decisions.’
Beto had made the most of a defensive error and lucky ricochet to put the Friulani in front, but just as hope was running out for the Rossoneri after a poor performance with few chances, Zlatan Ibrahimovic came up with the acrobatic goods in stoppages.
“We struggled to play our style of football and didn’t have the sharpness to make the decisions that would pick apart such a well-organised defence,” Pioli told Sky Sport Italia.
“When you concede, that also makes it even more complicated against a side that counter-attacks so well. We didn’t create many scoring opportunities, but we got to the final third so many times and should’ve equalised earlier.”
Opta calculate that since November 2021, Milan made the most errors leading to goals in the big five European leagues, giving away four goals.
That’s not including the Champions League, where there were also some very costly mistakes in the 2-1 home defeat to Liverpool this week.
“We are conceding really silly goals that are because we lose the ball, because we make the wrong decisions and play too centrally rather than spread it. I don’t know if it’s a lack of confidence, but it’s certainly a lack of sharpness and we must be far more careful with the ball at our feet.
“My lads are well aware when they aren’t playing at the best of their abilities. We certainly need to do better and I am convinced we will do, because there is ambition here, but also the ability to understand our errors and work on them.
“I think we lost a little solidity in defence over the last few games, we are not sharp when playing out from defence and that opens up spaces. It’s a tactical issue we need to work on and I’m sure the lads will be ready for that.”
Pioli knew something was wrong in the first half, because he changed the entire midfield during the break.
“I don’t think it’s an individual issue, it’s just we are making the wrong decisions with our passes. It was also our seventh game in 20 days, so playing in the Champions League saps you both physically and mentally.
“We need more focus and quality, because otherwise our style of football will run risks.”
Milan is good in the beginning of the serie a campaign and starting to run out of steam in the middle…there is a good chance for Inter to overlap it tonight. Inzaghi knows it better
Well maybe if you had learned your lesson against Sassuolo and hadn’t started Bakayoko and Bennacer together again that wouldn’t have happened.
Title should be : “Pioli finally identifies what he did wrong with choosing his starting line-up”
This is the first time I’m criticizing Pioli, but these two points we threw away are his fault, and of course Diaz’. Terrible player.
Mattia Aramu. Get him. Brahim Diaz. Lose him.
Mr Pioli lacks ideas as experience as he is… No coach in this generation uses one same system for 3 years even when all his wingers and strikers are out injured! He did it last year against Man United starting Castillejo as 9 instead of changing system and this season using Krunic in the absence of wingers when we can change system to move Theo forward or play an extra midfielder…we have 4 solid midfielders and we are struggling to win ball or control the midfield because Kessie is clearly a shadow of himself compared to last season and yet he’s stuck to the same system of two midfielders. .. Last night was a waste of substitute, removing two holding midfielders for another two, or right back for right back against Liverpool.. Who does that?? One idea and system like that can only win you some games when your players are in good form but not in the long run and definitely can not win you the league!
Pioli is not the wright man for Milan, he plays to defensive, his game is to slow, we need to play more pressure football, and when we are in bal possesion we need to play one touch football and possesion with out the ball. also change the system, 4-4-2 in a diamond formation, kessie central midfield, Tonali at the 10 position, Diaz next to zlatan in front, on the right sealemacker and on the left Leao, you can play more pressure on the defense of the opponent, also Diaz can play Zlatan the ball easily.
We missed you at the Champions League Draw.
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