Former Milan coach Arrigo Sacchi believes part of the Rossoneri’s problems this season lie in their transfer moves last summer. Milan have had a mixed season, having dropped out of the title race as well as the Champions League, leaving the Europa League as their primary target for the remainder of the campaign. Speaking with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Sacchi analysed the teams recent performances, highlighting the play of Portuguese winger Rafa Leao, who Sacchi believes has to do more for the team:
“When I see Milan players scattered around the field it means something is wrong. And I’m very sorry, because I think Pioli is a good coach as well as a good person. But he must intervene.” Arrigo, how do you rate Milan’s season so far?
“Judgment is suspended. The championship has been negative, not because Inter will win, but because the Rossoneri have never been in the fight for the title. And also the exit from the Champions League in the groups after last year’s semifinal weighs in the evaluations, as well as the elimination in the Coppa Italia. Milan must finish second, and it can succeed because it has more overall quality than Juventus, and go deep in the Europa League. Otherwise, the balance will not be good.”
What is the main cause of a season below expectations?
“The transfer market was not done well. And I am not referring only to individual qualities, since Pulisic offered an excellent performance and Loftus-Cheek, after a difficult start, grew. But a reliable central defender and above all a valid striker were needed, to give Giroud a break. Unfortunately, it is difficult to integrate so many foreigners together. And I have the impression that many purchases were not decided or at least shared by Pioli and, if it really was like that, it would be a serious mistake. In general, I believe that the way the squad was composed is not the right one, I have not seen a project as had happened in the recent past, but a series of disconnected operations. And so it is difficult to create a competitive team.”
Was Maldini’s competence underestimated and the algorithm’s overestimated?
“Paolo had done very well, respecting the budgets and the history of Milan. He had chosen a coach who tried to move away from tactical play to become a strategist and helped him not only in the market but day after day. I fear that Pioli felt a little abandoned after the decision to do without Maldini. I do not know the Americans or even Furlani. I hope that there are not different souls in the company, otherwise there is a risk. In my time there was a clear chain of command: Berlusconi, Galliani, Braida, me. We all had the same idea of football. The executives were competent and together we respected the club’s style. Style tells you who you are and where you’re going. What is Milan’s style today?”
On the field, the team often appears divided in two. Is this Pioli’s responsibility?
“Yes. He’s good and he has to make sure it doesn’t happen again. I see that Pioli is often criticized, I wouldn’t give him too much blame because the context and the group available must also be evaluated. Milan sometimes gives the impression of not knowing how to stay on the field, then they get five or six games right, then they fall back into chaos. There is no balance on the field and there is no continuity in the results. So you don’t go anywhere. If a player doesn’t sacrifice himself, if he doesn’t run back quickly, if he doesn’t collaborate, Pioli must have the courage to leave him out. Otherwise, that player damages the whole team.”
Are you thinking about Leao?
“He has enormous qualities, but he must play for the team and with the team. Instead, he mostly plays alone. Temperament is genetic: you have it or you don’t. I hope he has it because, by bringing him out, he would become a champion.”
How can the gap with Inter be reduced?
“With the strength of ideas. Inter is playing spectacular, modern, European football. And it is not fair to criticize Milan and Juventus because they cannot keep up with Inter. But you have to know how to read the situations and act accordingly. Milan will have to take functional players at the right price. But to do this, competence is needed in those who decide, therefore in the executives.”
