the shadow of the crisis hangs over the Rossoneri

Nothing is going well at San Siro as AC Milan have won only one game (1-2, against Salernitana) since the end of the international break linked to the World Cup in Qatar. Worse still, Stefano Pioli’s players were eliminated in the round of 16 of the Coppa Italia against Torino (0-1, ap), yet reduced to ten in the 69th minute. In the league, the hard-fought draw against Lecce (2-2) and the comeback against AS Roma (2-2) with goals from Roger Ibañez (87th) and Tammy Abraham (90th +3) at the end of the meeting did not resolve the lingering doubts.

“It’s always difficult to establish, being worried about a match helps to prepare as well as possible. I don’t see my players worried but we were wrong about the impact of the match. I’m always worried, especially when you don’t win. It’s true that in terms of points taken, we’re in line with last year, but we can play much better, be more precise in all areas of the pitch, avoiding the banal errors that complicate our matches. Now as far as the Super Cup is concerned, we will do everything to be ready.said Stefano Pioli after the disappointing draw against Lecce (2-2) in Serie A on Saturday night.

To read
Serie A: AC Milan snatches the point of the draw against Lecce but lets Naples slip in the lead

A symbolic match to revive

Although they were among the best defenses in Italy, the Rossoneri have conceded five goals over the last three days played in the league. A loss of defensive solidity to which must be added a loss of confidence. The scenario of the match against Roma showed mental fragility, mitigated by an opposite situation against Lecce. Coach Stefano Pioli wants to maximize on this second act against Salentini: “We will have to play like in the second half today (against Lecce, editor’s note), with this energy and this strength to better play the final in Riyadh. It’s a trophy that we are aiming for, against a great opponent with whom there is a great rivalry.

The other point to take into account on the return to Milan is the significant number of absences since the Qatari World Cup. So goalkeeper Mike Maignan is still stuck in the infirmary, as are Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Fodé Ballo-Touré, Alessandro Florenzi, Rade Krunic and Ante Rebic: “I hope to get Rebic back and I hope to see Maignan and Ibra again soon, overall we are all stronger and more convinced, even if from a market point of view we don’t have a lack of squad, well at least. contrary”, said Pioli who does not want to splurge on the winter transfer window. We must add to these injured elements, the multiple internationals present in Qatar: Olivier Giroud, Théo Hernandez, Simon Kjær, Charles De Ketelaere, Rafael Leão, Divock Origi, Sergiño Dest and Fodé Ballo-Touré.

The Super Cup final, with the flavors of Derby della Madonnina, will be double or nothing for Milan. A way to get your head above water or to drown permanently. For now, the battle for the Scudetto with Napoli is just a vast memory in the words of the Italian tactician: “We don’t think about it now, we have to get our game back to get back to winning ways and win consistently. It will be necessary to evaluate the performances well to understand why we have resumed so badly.