Former Milan defender Alessandro Costacurta believes that making it to the final of the Europa League would still make it a positive season for the Rossoneri. The Milan legend was speaking with La Gazzetta dello Sport, ahead of their second-round clash with Ligue 1 side Rennes, and explained why he believes making it to the final could be a good season for the club and coach Stefano Pioli:
First stop in Rennes: will they then be able to continue to the final?
“Liverpool and Leverkusen are stronger. Against them, they wouldn’t be the favored team, but anything can happen in a potential final. The qualities to go all the way are there.”
Is it right to shift the season’s ambitions to the cup?
“If you reach the final, and you can even accept losing it, the season is positive. Playing for a European title has value from many perspectives: technically, in terms of image. It creates anticipation, it excites you for the journey. Conversely, the season would become not good. And I emphasize not good, I avoid saying negative.”
In favor of Europe, Pioli had reserved the turnover for the last round of the league against Monza. Did the reserves disappoint?
“I know Pioli doesn’t accept the term ‘reserve,’ so I’ll say that the substitutes disappointed. Chukwueze, Jovic, and Okafor should have given much more. And it’s wrong to always blame the coach; the players are responsible: they disappointed me, not Pioli.”
Not pointing fingers at the coach means renewing trust in him for next year?
“Too early to say. If Milan reaches the final and finishes second in the league, for me, yes, he should be confirmed. If they let Inter go +20 and get knocked out of Europe against teams that aren’t on the level of Liverpool or Bayer, it’s fair to question him.”
The issue is always current: which side is the team on, in your opinion?
“The feeling of the end of a cycle belongs more to the fans. The players show they follow him, lately they’ve won thanks to the team spirit, the strength of unity. And the group is created thanks to the coach. Then the results determine, and Pioli knows it better than anyone.”
Conceding fewer goals would help him… Is it just a matter of individual errors?
“Same as before. The imbalance is attributable to the coach, but it’s also the players who take the field who need to make better choices. Who thought Pirlo would become so good at intercepting opponent’s balls? Or that Calhanoglu would succeed? It’s Adli, Bennacer, and Reijnders who need to step up. And it’s the same reason why in the summer I would invest primarily in midfield. All the strongest teams in Europe make the difference there. Rodri for Manchester City is the perfect example.”
Is it enough to rely on Leao up front?
“I’ve seen him grow in attitude, and it’s the basis for improving in everything else: first and foremost, in finding the goal more often. With him, I’ve often been critical; he was considered a champion too soon and yet he’s not there yet. But I recognize in him a different attitude, more inclined to sacrifice. And with the desire to learn, he can really approach the greats.”
