Deputy Prime Minister and lifelong Milan supporter Mattia Salvini is bitterly critical of coach Stefano Pioli and recent decisions. ‘We can lose, but must do so with dignity.’
They host Torino this evening at 19.45 GMT and hope to turn around a dismal run of results that has seen them go out of the Coppa Italia, lose the Supercoppa Italiana to Inter and pick up just two points from the last five Serie A rounds.
“I followed Milan when they were in Serie B, so I have no problem with suffering, but what frightens me lately is the sense of resignation at Milan, especially in the derby with Inter,” Salvini told Calciomercato.com.
“They simply didn’t play. Pioli insists on using seven or eight defenders, I mean, Milan can win or lose, but the important thing is to do so with dignity.”
It was only last season that Milan won their first Serie A title in a decade, beating rivals Inter to the trophy, but Pioli has already lost much of that goodwill among certain fans.
“Pioli gave us this unexpected joy last season, but I don’t see it going well now. It’s also fair to say he can only do the best with what he’s got, but if you insist on using three at the back when you don’t have the likes of Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Costacurta, or leave youngsters out to make way for Messias and Krunic…
“I hope that things get sorted out, but the formations that Pioli used in recent weeks left us frankly perplexed.”
Salvini also took the opportunity of discussing plans to build a new stadium for Milan, using it as another criticism of the club and its transfer strategy in the wake of Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s injury problems.
“We need a modern, safe and club-owned stadium. Just like we need a centre-forward.”
With some in his Government eager to block the demolition of the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza to make way for a new San Siro stadium, Salvini has said he is in favour of Milan dropping Inter and going it alone in nearby Sesto San Giovanni.