Italian journalist Manuele Baiocchini, speaking live on Sky Sport Italia, provides an update on Milan and Pioli's situations after the defeat in the Europa League against Roma:
"The situation is clearly not positive for everything that has happened. After last night's game, there is first and foremost disappointment, anger, frustration. Milan tried in spirit and intention to overturn it, but then failed to express themselves as Milan neither in the first leg nor in the return leg. It's a fair elimination; Roma was a stronger and higher-quality team than Milan in these 180 minutes. There were some quite surprising choices that didn't pay off."
The journalist continued to discuss Milan:
"Often Pioli invents brilliant tactical situations, football-wise: he manages to find the key to put opponents in difficulty. This time, however, Milan put themselves in difficulty with Calabria's position, who had performed very well in a game at the Olimpico against Roma before. Perhaps remembering that occasion, Stefano Pioli wanted to repeat it with Musah as right-back, a role reversal that didn't pay off, even with a decent performance from the American. The three forwards together in the second half, the exclusion of Reijnders from the starting lineup, one of the midfielders of higher quality and form in recent times... The exclusion of Chukwueze sparked debate because he seemed to be the only one between the first and second leg who gave the impression of troubling Roma. All these analyses will be done at the end of the season, but by now many things have already happened and passed."
Baiocchini concluded as he talks about Pioli's future:
"Milan exited the Champions League in the group stage, the Europa League in the quarterfinals, and the Coppa Italia in the quarterfinals. There remains the satisfaction, which is not insignificant, of a second place if Milan were to achieve and confirm it. But it will probably be a bit insufficient for Stefano Pioli's confirmation, so it's normal that there are reflections for the future."
