Stefano Pioli had ‘no doubts’ Christian Pulisic would make a great impact on Milan and Serie A, while revealing what advice he gave Rafael Leao after the opening 2-0 win over Bologna.
The Rossoneri ran a huge risk in the opening 20 seconds when Charalampos Lykogiannis thumped the crossbar, but they were leading 2-0 by the 21st minute at the Stadio Dall’Ara.
The new buys made an immediate contribution, as the Christian Pulisic cross-field pass was volleyed back from the by-line by Tijjani Reijnders for Olivier Giroud to score.
Then Pulisic completed a give-and-go with Giroud to blast in the goal on his Serie A debut.
“I think the more you give the ball to players with quality, the better your odds of scoring a goal. It doesn’t matter if it is Rafael Leao or anyone else,” Pioli told DAZN when asked about Milan no longer being so dependent on the Portuguese talent.
“We need to work more to find a better balance, but those who have arrived certainly know how to play football and that is a good place to start from. We only had four friendlies and this first game of the season, so there’s work to be done, but we are on the right track.”
Pulisic made the biggest impact on his Serie A debut with a goal and a crucial part in the opener for Giroud, while Reijnders seemed to be everywhere in defence, midfield and attack.
It is the best possible start for the new signings, especially with Marco Pellegrino landing at Linate Airport this evening to become their ninth buy of the summer.
“I am satisfied, because I had asked the directors for certain characteristics in specific roles rather than naming names, and they gave me those. The old guard have helped the newcomers to settle quickly, while the new players are getting accustomed to a style of football that they are not used to.
“I always knew Pulisic was a talent, this was never in doubt. In the phone call I had with him before he signed, it was evident that he was bringing a lot of quality to the squad. On top of that, he is also a very versatile player who can fill in for Leao or play behind the striker when needed.”
With all the new faces, Giroud was the one who broke the deadlock and remains an extraordinarily reliable centre-forward.
“He sets the example, he is a leader on and off the field, always has the right attitude and is ready to work for the team. He has won so much in his career, he is happy at Milan. It’s true that he is no longer that young, so we must find a way to give him a breather every now and then, but I am very pleased to be coaching this great person.”
Both Dan Ndoye and Rafael Leao hit the upright on a hot and humid night that was so steamy, Milan preferred to spend their half-time break on the bench rather than face misfiring air conditioning in the locker room.
“I speak to Rafa every day and try to make him understand that his talent is a superpower, but he needs to use that superpower to help the team. If we all learn to sacrifice ourselves and work off the ball, I think we can do great things. Rafa is understanding that and worked so hard today.
“The locker room was impossible to stay in, it was about 60 degrees C in there, so we preferred to spend half-time on the pitch.”
Zlatan Ibrahimovic retired over the summer and his presence was an important element for the Rossoneri, both on and off the field.
“We miss Zlatan, that is for sure, but he did so much for this group and the best thing is that he helped us grow in terms of mentality. His absence is felt, but the players have grown thanks to him and learned so much over the last four years.”