Luciano Spalletti admits Milan simply out-played Napoli and ‘made the most’ of the spaces left for a 4-0 result, while explaining what happened in the row with Paolo Maldini. ‘I didn’t like it and told him as much.’
The Partenopei may be the Champions of Italy elect, but the Rossoneri still hold the title and made a point of it with this 4-0 victory at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
Rafael Leao opened the scoring early with a delightful lob, then Brahim Diaz fired in from six yards for the 2-0 by the 25th minute.
Leao added a second after the break and Alexis Saelemaekers went on a solo run to nutmeg Alex Meret for the fourth.
Napoli had only conceded 16 goals in Serie A all season until letting four in this evening. Was the 4-0 result harsh?
“No, Milan had an excellent performance, started strong and then made the most of all the opportunities we allowed them when we got stretched out, using those spaces cleverly,” Spalletti told DAZN.
“Our performance was below our usual level and the desire my players had to turn it around ended up leaving even more spaces for Milan to take advantage of.
“We tried to force the forward pass without the usual quality in building out from the back and gave the ball away too often. We left spaces between the lines and Milan are very good at using those spaces with players who are not quite strikers, midfielders or a trequartista.
“In taking them on man for man, we didn’t always divide up the tasks in the right way.”
Victor Osimhen was ruled out by an injury on international duty, but Spalletti would not use that as an excuse.
“Matias Oliver and Piotr Zielinski both returned with problems, Osimhen had that injury, so we were a little unlucky with this round, but Milan too had players away on international duty.”
These sides will meet again in the Champions League quarter-finals on April 12 and 18, so this result could have an effect on the psychology of the two teams preparing for that showdown.
“What changes is that now someone other than me will say we did not get a lucky draw! People seemed to be acting as if Milan were an easy opponent to push aside. Now perhaps others will see it the same way as I do.”
There was an unsavoury incident at half-time when the teams were coming back out of the tunnel, as Spalletti seemed to be criticising Leao for his disrespectful celebration, sparking a strong response from Milan director Paolo Maldini.
“Nothing happened, I was just getting back and asking about the Lobotka yellow card. The referee was explaining that, Maldini went past waving his arms as if to say I complain all the time or whatever. However, like last season, we were all still on the bench and did not protest, unlike Pioli who was told off by the referee. Nobody told me off.
“What I did not like was that he was talking over me and my questions, so I told him as much. He reacted then, but as far as I am concerned, there’s nothing in it.
“After all, it is Paolo Maldini! I did not play at his level, but I was in football for a few years myself too.”