Stefano Pioli admits Milan ‘keep making the same costly errors’ due to a ‘frenetic’ approach after the 2-2 draw with Lecce, giving injury updates on Rafael Leao and Davide Calabria.
It was a chaotic match at the Stadio Via del Mare, coming off the back of the midweek 2-1 Champions League win over Paris Saint-Germain.
Rafael Leao went off early with a muscular problem, but they still took a 2-0 lead through Olivier Giroud and Tijjani Reijnders.
“We played in the second half with a frenetic attitude that we are not accustomed to. We should’ve controlled the game better, it’s also true we created chances to go 3-0 up with Reijnders and Okafor, but again were too hasty,” Pioli told DAZN.
“We conceded a goal on a corner that was identical to the one scored by PSG, so we keep making the same very costly errors.”
Lecce completed the comeback in a period of only four minutes with Nicola Sansone and Lameck Banda, then Sansone hit the upright too.
Giroud lost his temper with two yellow cards for dissent in a matter of seconds and a last-gasp Roberto Piccoli winner was disallowed for a foul on Malick Thiaw.
“It was clear that we had the opportunities to kill the game off and at 3-0 it probably would’ve been. We got too stretched out, too frenetic and did not win a game that we should’ve won.”
The coach insists there was no hangover from the Champions League and PSG, because they did start so strong against Lecce this afternoon.
“We had the right approach at the start, we were in control of the game and conceding one goal cannot see all of that go out the window.
“We are making errors created by a lack of sharpness and calm, which are preventing us from winning games. It’s the second time in three Serie A games that we have been 2-0 up away from home and unable to take the victory.”
The other was in a 2-2 draw away to Napoli, which all together means Milan have only two points from their last four Serie A matches.
“These are situations we have to work on. We twice made the mistake of thinking we had it wrapped up when that was not the case, which in turn only increases the tension and irritability.”
The injury list is also growing, as Leao went off after pulling up clutching the back of his right thigh, then Davide Calabria was replaced by Yunus Musah at half-time in a makeshift right-back role.
“Leao and Calabria both had flexor issues. I introduced Musah because he was the only one who could hold out against the pace and physicality of Banda down that flank.”
Reijnders scored his first goal in the Rossoneri jersey and also hit the woodwork, so that at least should boost the midfielder’s confidence going forward.
“He has great timing to his runs, is intelligent and has great technique. I think he can be more effective in attack, he scored today and could’ve had more.”