Milan, Pioli: here’s what doesn’t work anymore

Nowadays not even the “pilates” work anymore. The game-saving intuitions, those little blows to a static, immobile game, often split thanks to a decisive move. This was not the case against Roma. Pioli chose to make Musah the starter and place him on the right under construction, with Calabria in the middle. Failing choice. The Rossoneri captain was replaced at the restart, while the American lasted seventy minutes. Just enough time to attempt a couple of serpentines and a lopsided right-footed shot from outside the area, before sinking together with his teammates during the hailstorm that rained down on the Olimpico during the match.

defects

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Pioli also lost the reins regarding the game, the tactical aspect, historically one of his strong points. The first crack in a bad match was this, namely the inability to contain Roma and to go beyond the siege as an end in itself: Milan, between the first and second legs, finished 45 times towards Svilar’s goal (25 on the outward journey and 20 on the return journey). The result? Only one goal with Gabbia and two woodwork, the first with Giroud and the second with Loftus at the Olimpico. Too little. Also under construction: ball to Leao – or Chukwueze – and something happens. It was impossible to undermine the Giallorossi rearguard with this predictable maneuver.

Goodbye solidity

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Another point against is the defensive strength. Milan are the ninth defense in the championship with 37 goals conceded in 32 games. Fiorentina, Atalanta, Lazio, Roma, Turin, Bologna, Juventus and Inter have conceded fewer goals. Other data, then. In 16 league and cup matches they have conceded two or more goals. Indeed, four against Monza in February and five in the first leg derby. Not to mention the hat-trick received by Sassuolo in the last round of the championship and the one against PSG in the big cup. On some occasions Milan managed to come back from a disadvantage – see Frosinone or Udinese -, but the defense did not hold its ground. The only alibi is injuries. There was a period in which Pioli was forced to call up the Primavera players to make up for various absences. Simic, Bartesaghi and Jimenez played several minutes, as did Zeroli in midfield and Camarda up front. However, the defensive resistance was decisive. Milan took in a lot and conceded even more, especially on the counterattack.

at the end of a cycle

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The last note concerns the grip on the players. Over the years, Pioli has always led the group with his head held high, improving dozens of players: Leao, Calabria, Theo, Bennacer, but also Messias, Rebic, Krunic and Saelemaekers (to name a few who have left). Pioli seems to have really given everything. After the match, in the press room, he told the reporters to be patient “because we will talk about his future at the start of the season”. The impression is that his cycle is over.