Arrigo Sacchi, the former coach of AC Milan and the Italian national team, has expressed his disappointment with Milan’s current form, particularly following their lackluster 0-0 draw against Juventus. In a recent interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, Sacchi shared his thoughts on the match and the overall state of the club.
Sacchi, who was present at San Siro for the Milan-Juventus game, described it as a “grey match that couldn’t have been greyer: not a single moment of excitement, not a single spark.” While he acknowledged that Juventus had several absences that might explain their subdued performance, Sacchi was particularly critical of Milan, stating, “Milan really disappointed me.”
The former coach noted the understandable boos from the Milan fans, reflecting on the lack of quality on display. Sitting next to Franco Baresi and Daniele Massaro, Sacchi quipped, “If they continue like this, you two could play, and you’d surely make a good impression!”
Addressing the current situation at Milan, Sacchi was hesitant to place all the blame on coach Stefano Pioli. He questioned whether Pioli had chosen all the players at his disposal or if they were selected by the club’s management. Sacchi emphasized, “This Milan is a victim of too many ups and downs. The team, in the sense of a group, isn’t there. You don’t see a collective, cohesive game.”
Sacchi also commented on Rafael Leao’s performances, cautioning against expecting him to be a team leader due to his temperament. “Sometimes, in certain matches, he’s a good player; other times, you don’t even notice him. It’s like when you go fishing: you never know if you’ll return with an empty or full basket,” Sacchi explained.
Regarding Milan’s title chances, Sacchi was pessimistic: “I maintain that Milan can forget about the Scudetto. There are too many teams ahead of them, and above all, these teams are going at full speed and all have a clear game plan and identity.”
Sacchi concluded with a poignant observation about the keys to success in football: “The secret to success is: a great club, a good coach, and quality players who follow him and would throw themselves into the fire for him. Are all these components present in today’s Milan?”
