Stefano Pioli explains how Milan kept their heads and turned the game around against Inter with an Olivier Giroud brace. ‘There are only insurmountable obstacles for those who don’t believe.’
It was a game of two halves in the Derby della Madonnina, as Inter dominated the first 45 minutes and were only 1-0 up thanks to Mike Maignan heroics.
After the break, the game changed completely, Milan taking the initiative and turning it around with two goals in four minutes from Olivier Giroud.
This closes the gap at the top of the table to just one point, even if the Nerazzurri still have a game in hand.
Serie A | Inter 1-2 Milan: Giroud and Maignan seal dramatic derby comeback
“I laughed seeing my run, it’s not a good look! But my joy was too big, my lads have this incredible spirit to go beyond their limits,” Pioli told DAZN.
“We have the same points as at this stage last season, so we know there’s a lot more to be done. I told the players we must continue believing in ourselves and there are only insurmountable obstacles for people who don’t believe.
“We beat the best team in Serie A, the reigning champions and the leaders, so we proved ourselves. It’s true Inter played better in the first half, but my Milan have great courage and fear nobody. We took the game to a team that was superior in some areas and it’s not even our best period of form.
“Our only defeat of 2022 unfortunately was not entirely up to us, but the mental strength of my side is remarkable.”
Pioli explains how his changes helped shift the momentum of the Derby della Madonnina in the second half.
“Inter had also hurt us on the counter earlier this season and again today we gave them chances with our own errors and misplaced passes. Inter sat back more after the break, they let us take the initiative, we needed more fresh legs to shake things up and those were Messias and Brahim Diaz.”
Giroud is a proven match-winner who joined the Rossoneri after lifting the Champions league trophy with Chelsea.
“Signing Giroud and other players who know what it means to win and what you need to win, like Zlatan, Kjaer, Giroud, Maignan, raises the level of maturity, experience and knowledge. These are important lessons the younger players are learning every day.”
Pioli revealed he made a pledge before the match and will follow that superstition.
“It’s a bit banal, but I promised myself that if we won this game, I wouldn’t smoke my beloved Tuscan cigar for a month. It might do me good…”
Olivier Giroud is not going to miss from that sort of range! 💥
The former Arsenal and Chelsea striker combines with Brahim Díaz to bring AC Milan level with Inter. pic.twitter.com/CVoKPykgw3
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) February 5, 2022
Milan will always be superior to inter, no matter the circumstances, factos!
Too bad for Pioli that believing won’t be enough to actually win the league. The result of this match is what’s called false hope. As it’ll take more than luck to actually get the minimum points against weaker sides. On the other hand for Inter all this means is just how important not to give any sense of hope to an opponent that depends on luck. But most importantly that Handa is really bad and he only look good because good defenders helps him
No, false hope is winning a game until the 75th minute then losing it.
@SOlotinter
Taking 4 Points in two derbys without Ibra, Rebic, Kjaer, Tomori ( Today) , Theo and Maignan ( last derby) is a little bit more than luck my friend.
Ok I think this was obvious but let me just say it. Winning/losing/drawing the derby doesn’t make any difference whatsoever if then the team goes on to lose points against relegation teams. If it was a final then yes but regardless if the team have players injured or not winning the league is actually more about performance rather that (whether some people like or not ) LUCK.
It is not over. It is still long way to go. INTER still lead one point with one match in hand. The next week game against Napoli is decisive one.
@lulzim Cakolli
very funny guy. you should be a comedian.
@dzurjakcsopi what’s so funny? That’s a fact. your name is as funny as your brain
@lulzim Cakolli
Always is a very strong word when inter have more scudetto and coppa Italia wins than Milan
And stop highlighting about your missing players over and over again
But for sure Giroud and Maignan were far better than dzeko and handa last night
Handa has been shocking for quite a while
@ Solointer You want to talk about luck after the Spezia game? Milan would be top now if every single thing had not gone against them in that game.
@interisti
What else do we have? 🙂 You can call it an Alibi if players miss like 2-3 games and lose those matches and then say its because of the injuries..but now those injuries hunt us for like three years now…so in this circumstance its not an alibi anymore but a fact! Who knows where we would be if we have every player fit?
I though Dzeko was pretty decent at hold up play and helping inter advance to the final third..i was always annoyed how pioli did not see this as it did always occur and double mark him. Got me annoyed