Tommaso Pobega admits Milan ‘got it wrong’ at the start when conceding 33 seconds into the 1-1 draw with Bologna. ‘We threw points away and have been doing that all season.’
The Rossoneri revolutionised their squad at the Stadio Dall’Ara, as Stefano Pioli changed all 10 outfield players from the XI that beat Napoli in the Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday evening.
It was the worst possible start, Nicola Sansone giving Bologna the lead after 33 seconds, but Tommaso Pobega’s strike cancelled it out just before half-time.
There was tension at the final whistle after two penalty appeals for a challenge on Ante Rebic and the late Jhon Lucumi handball.
“We got it wrong at the start, we tried to turn it around and it wasn’t enough. This hurts, as we threw points away and we’ve been doing that all season,” Pobega told DAZN.
“We are trying to work as well as possible in training to prepare for the matches, that is the only way we know. We’ve got to start strong next time and score early.”
Was changing all 10 outfield players and keeping only goalkeeper Mike Maignan perhaps too radical a transformation for this team?
“Even if the players changed, the concepts were the same and it’s a pity, as we could’ve taken home all three points if we were more incisive and precise. The lack of precision was the really costly element.”
Inevitably, the focus was on the Champions League quarter-final with Napoli, as the second leg is coming up on Tuesday at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
“I don’t think Napoli distracted us, as we were concentrated on this match. We have to analyse where we went wrong and work to do better in the next game.”