AC Milan suffered another defeat on Sunday as we fell to a 1-0 loss to Inter, with Stefano Pioli still searching for solutions to end our poor form.
That’s now three losses on the bounce and five without a win in Serie A, as we remain in sixth place in the standings and potentially at risk of falling adrift of the top four.
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However, there were some positive signs in the second half that we can hopefully build on, and having opted to make changes to both the system and personnel, it’s hoped that Pioli has taken away key information which will help him get closer to finding long-term fixes to our ongoing issues.
Pioli makes understandable tweak, but ultimately didn’t work
Having conceded 12 goals in our three games prior to Sunday, Pioli went for a more conservative approach and tried to be more compact to give ourselves a defensive foundation and an opportunity to grow in confidence the longer it stayed goalless.
While that worked for 30 minutes, the problem with that gameplan is that if we do concede, then it has been an abject performance where we’ve offered very little and the pressure is on us to then come out and hit back.
We produced a more positive reaction in the second half and perhaps should have found a way back into the game, but it certainly felt as though we wasted the opening 45 minutes being too passive rather than showing more intent and aggression.
Familiar system better way forward
One of the key issues in terms of doing more when we won possession back, was that the Milan players didn’t really ever look like we were comfortable in the new system.
Players were under pressure immediately, there was little to no movement off the ball to provide options and we lacked composure to even string a few passes together.
We looked more comfortable in the second half as we moved back towards a more familiar set-up, and while there were understandable reasons for why Pioli chose to make the changes he did, there wasn’t enough there to suggest that it can be a long-term solution.
Clear and obvious lack of confidence and composure in our play
Staying on that point of our play on the ball, particularly in the first half, Milan look a side devoid of confidence and belief in what we’re trying to do as the negative run of results has had an impact.
It’s hoped that we can take something from our improvements in the second half into the game against Torino, but there’s also an element of trying to start over with a clean slate and really focus on bouncing back with key games ahead.
The absence of Ismael Bennacer hurts us, but we have to find solutions without him for the time being and others need to step up and produce more in possession.
Changes made positive impact
There was certainly a shift in the direction of the game as we started to make changes from half-time onwards. Milan began to gain some level of control in the encounter and we looked more of a threat going forward.
Inter’s performance level also dipped which helped, but there should be some important aspects of that second half that Pioli can take in terms of what worked and what didn’t, and who is currently capable of making a crucial impact for us.
Had we been more clinical in the second half, it could have been a much more interesting conclusion to the Derby, but ultimately we fell short again after making a disappointing start in the opening 45 minutes.
Pioli must lean on key Milan players
While there are undoubtedly reasons behind his decisions having had the benefit of seeing the players in training all week, and our recent form almost demanded that we make changes, Pioli has to find a way to keep our best players in the XI and help them regain their top form.
Given the lack of quality shown by us in the first half, there must be a way of keeping Rafael Leao in the starting line-up and getting him back to his best and most threatening form, while the likes of Brahim Diaz and Ante Rebic surely have to play bigger roles too as we try to break out of this rut.
There is of course the ongoing Charles De Ketelaere challenge too, but such is the poor level of quality from alternative options, and that has been the case for a significant period of time, we’ve got to find answers with our more talented players leading the way.