Stefano Pioli, the manager of AC Milan, discussed the team’s shortcomings with the media following the 1-0 loss to Juventus. He acknowledged that his teammates’ subpar play also contributed to Malick Thiaw’s red card.
Milan started the game strongly, and Olivier Giroud came dangerously close to putting them ahead before a great save kept it close. However, Thiaw was dismissed in the 40th minute for a shoddy challenge with Moise Kean.
According to MilanNews, Pioli discussed his opinions on the game and the red card with DAZN following the match. He claimed that the Rossoneri could have won the three points and that they performed admirably even with ten men.
“I avoid talking to the team after games because there is still a lot of stress and even disappointment.” We had 11 and 10 men in the match; we could have paid closer attention; even with one man less, we were not any less good.
On Pulisic’s substitution after Thiaw’s red card…
“I removed an attacker to maintain the same defensive structure that we had prepared during the week. In order to try to get a win, we needed to play more intensely and attentively in our half of the field, which is where we started the second half strong.
“I expected Weah to mark Leao more than Gatti. Gatti committed a lot of fouls. If you commit repeated fouls, you should get a yellow card by regulation. We played our game, but we had to fill the penalty box better in the first half. We should have been more stringent at the send-off, but instead we displayed individual and departmental naivety. It is unfortunate because we were not any less capable with ten men. A positive result would have been fairer.”
“He should have stayed put and not tried to advance. The full-back also made a mistake because he had to stay tighter. Thiaw was also unlucky because he slipped, but he could have done better.”
He took the ball well and made a good entry. Okafor can also contribute to the fact that his condition is getting better. However, if you need a ball-handler, Jovic is a different player from Okafor, who performs better in other game circumstances.”
On the defeats against Inter and Juventus…
It doesn’t take anything away from us. We have to try to do better. The team knows what it has, and each game shows us where we need to get better. Becoming more concrete is certainly an objective.
Next, Milan will play Paris Saint-Germain, where returning players include Mike Maignan, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, and Theo Hernandez. After two draws, the Rossoneri need to win at least one of the two games against the French side.
