Milan have ended their 22-match unbeaten run against Napoli and Gazzetta points out the two problems Stefano Pioli must solve to compete for the Serie A title.
The Rossoneri suffered their first defeat this season at the Stadio Meazza last night. Napoli secured a 2-1 win thanks to goals from Matteo Politano and Giovanni Simeone, while Olivier Giroud netted Milan’s only goal of the night.
Rafael Leao was suspended, so, as Stefano Cantalupi points out on La Gazzetta dello Sport, Napoli defenders had a quieter night than they would have with the Portuguese star on the pitch.
Stefano Pioli said that his lads couldn’t be satisfied despite a good performance as they were not able to avoid defeat against a direct rival for the Scudetto.
Gazzetta analysed Milan’s defeat last night, highlighting two problems the Rossoneri coach must solve quickly to get his team back on track.
The Serie A champions have been more fragile defensively this term. They have conceded seven goals in the last five games across all competitions, with Inter, Napoli, Sampdoria, RB Salzburg and Dinamo Zagreb able to find the net against the Diavoli.
Last season, they were the best defence in the league, along with Napoli, with just 31 goals conceded, only nine in the Girone di Ritorno, making them the less-beaten defence in Europe in 2022.
It will be crucial for the Rossoneri to regain solidity and unity at the back to compete for the Scudetto in 2022-23.
Pioli is also working on new signings that have yet to leave the mark. Their most expensive purchase, Charles De Ketelaere, has yet to find the net this season. However, Pioli said on Sunday that the Belgium international put in the ‘best performance’ so far for Milan against Napoli.
Sergiño Dest caused a penalty kick last night while Yacine Adli was introduced in the final 15 minutes. Gazzetta describes the France starlet as a ‘mysterious object’ who has been left out of the Champions League list and is the third choice for the attacking midfielder role.
Milan’s first game after the break is away at Empoli on Saturday, October 1.
We lose once and need a miracle cure? Disagree
Chill. One loss in the league to a Napoli we played significantly better than. Scudetto hopes are very much alive, especially with kive in an unabated crisis and Inter having picked up fewer points than us so far and seemingly struggling with their own issues.
We have ONE issue and that can only be solved with a transfer, so unless Colombo can be called back early, that issue is money for a striker.
In hindsight, Belotti would have been a worthwhile recruitment.
You are right it’s not the end of the world but if that team had of been picked properly we could have got a point. Pioli and Maldini no we need a right hand sided player so why does he keep playing salemakers and messiah they are not good enough so why didn’t he. Put dest up the right hand side from the start he’s a better player than both them although poor marking for the second goal tomari lost his man but hey ho things can only get better.
What is the second problem? You mention 2 problems but only talk about 1, lol. You don’t have to have the best defense in the league if you are creating lots of chances. It becomes a problem when you can’t convert those chances.
Too keep scudetto hopes alive. That part cracked me up. We have played by far best in the league and yet we have two things to “keep the dream alive” gtfo