AC Milan won 1-0 against Hellas Verona thanks to a goal scored by star left-winger Rafael Leao. But, Arrigo Sacchi remains skeptical. He was not convinced by what he saw in the match from Pioli's team. Here are his words for La Gazzetta dello Sport:
"I saw a Milan that still struggles. I'm not enchanted by the result, even though beating Verona is never easy. The problem is that Pioli's team is not yet a collective. Being a collective means having eleven players active with and without the ball, it means pressing, it means not resorting to long passes, it means keeping the ball low, it means constant movement. Milan must be like an accordion, it must know when to open up and close at the right moment. The collective, despite what some may think differently, enhances talent, it doesn't imprison it. If there is no collective, meaning there is no teamwork, talent alone serves little purpose. This is a lesson that everyone should commit to memory, but in Italy, I see that few have understood it. The defeat in the derby, so clear-cut, has certainly caused some problems in the environment. It's normal for it to be this way.
Sacchi continued:
"What are the Milan players like? Are they in line with the coach's project? I hope so, I really hope that Pioli chose them according to their technical and human characteristics. It's fundamental to know the players, especially as individuals, because you know exactly what they can give you. When I arrived at Milan, I requested the transfer of those who didn't fit into my playing ideas or didn't adhere to normal professional behavior. The coach needs time to assemble the team: there are so many new faces, this requires patience. You can't achieve everything all at once. The attackers don't participate in the defensive phase; the defenders, when they have the ball, play long passes; it's not very clear what kind of strategy they intend to implement. It seems to me that there's a bit of confusion, and it's up to Pioli to bring order, provide clear guidelines, and demonstrate that he's the first to believe in the ideas he proposes to his players."
On Rafael Leao, Sacchi commented in the folowing way:
"Leao scored a nice goal, but today Milan exists primarily for the Portuguese player, and this is a limitation. Leao, with his way of being on the field, with his missed recoveries, with his lack of participation in the group's work, is what prevents you from becoming a collective."
He added:
"If you want to take a step towards a higher quality, towards a more European style of play, it's crucial that everyone is in line with the project and that everyone knows how to sacrifice for the team. Let's say that the Rossoneri are eagerly trying to improve, but there are still many steps to take. After all, a defeat like the one suffered in the derby, with all that it entails, is not easily digested."
