Today’s Milan signal is not new: Pioli knows how to respond well to defeats
AC Milan continues to show positive resilience after a defeat, as demonstrated in their recent game against Monza – something that doesn’t come as a surprise for Coach Stefano Pioli.
“When we are able to play whilst having fun, we can perform better. We have experienced times of intense positivity and negativity. There have been times when it’s difficult to be lighthearted. I enjoyed everything about the team’s performance today: we started strong, knowing when to take pressure, never losing our harmony and balance. This was a positive but challenging performance after the exertions of Wednesday against a well-playing opponent,” said Pioli when assessing the convincing 3-0 win on the day.
Remarkably, this marks AC Milan’s fifth setback in the season, standing in stark comparison to Inter and Juventus’s solitary slip-up and Bologna’s two (stats taken before the completion of Sunday matches).
Their victory against Monza came as a significant morale booster, further bolstering their reaction post the 3-2 defeat in Bergamo the previous week.
However, being a prominent name in European football, it’s often the case that domestic demands are isolated and overlooked against the backdrop of the European competitions week in, week out. Even so, the impact of the previous game can’t be undermined, regardless of the competition.
The win at St. James’ Park, prior to facing Palladino, despite the disappointment of being knocked out of the Champions League, showcased the team’s resilience and revival. The quality of goals scored and the significant contribution of the players on the bench was evidence enough of how they had successfully managed to overcome a low period.
Today, the Rossoneri managed to get off the mark immediately, steering the game towards serenity and fun, according to the coach. A similar approach was seen after their derby defeat, but after going one up, Milan’s periodic absence against Verona contrasted starkly from their form against Monza.
A balanced performance was seen even in the game against Napoli, where after a 1-0 lead taken by Juventus, Milan fought back scoring 2 goals, only to succumb to a comeback by the Garcia-managed side post-interval.
Including today’s game, there have been four instances where the team demonstrated the right intentions from kick-off, scoring early, and conceding when they seemed secure. Having this kind of character strength and command over play is a noteworthy asset to possess.