It would be fair to say that Carlo Pellegatti was not best pleased with AC Milan’s performance and their elimination from the Coppa Italia at the hands of Atalanta last night.
Things seemed to be going in the right direction for Milan when Rafael Leao’s fantastic finish in the closing stages of the first half made it 1-0. However, the lead would last for less than two minutes before Teun Koopmeiners equalised.
Koopmeiners would hurt the Rossoneri again in the second half and this time from the penalty spot after Alex Jimenez was controversially penalised for a foul on Miranchuk. The Dutchman converted from 12 yards, and it would prove to be the winner.
Milan’s Coppa Italia drought will therefore continue, and it is a bitter blow given that many saw the competition as a legitimate trophy target. The Scudetto seems a distant mirage, while the Europa League will be very tough to win.
Pellegatti spoke on Radio Rossonera’s YouTube channel on their live post-match broadcast and he did not hold back in criticising the team’s approach and Pioli’s choices.
“I am very disappointed, atrociously disappointed. I’m livid with nervousness because I was careful to say that we had emerged from the cesspool, there was something in the second half in Empoli that didn’t convince me,” he said.
“This evening was bad, the famous relapses are always worse than the disease. In this case I have to use all my balance, in these evenings my experience is needed to maintain balance and not go further and then regret it. But the disappointment is atrocious and will take a few days to absorb.
“It’s not because Milan were eliminated from the Coppa Italia, but because they were against a nerveless Atalanta in the first half hour, who were technically struggling. Despite this, we never managed to make ourselves dangerous when we dribbled.
“With the utmost education and rationality I say that Pioli’s choices did not convince me tonight. Musah on the right wing doesn’t give quality. Now we have the league and the Europa League left, I hope to see a Milan with 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 and with Giroud up front. Either with him, or with an alternative from the market, that’s what I hope.
“It seems to me that Adli is an indispensable player waiting for Bennacer’s return. Jiménez pays a lot physically. The only happy note of the evening was the entrance of Terracciano, I really liked him. You can see that he is a ready player. When the players are young, either they are phenomena or they are made to mature, otherwise they struggle.
“You have to help yourself, today honestly some tactical and technical choices didn’t convince me and therefore I hope to return to the formation to recite from memory. The thing that makes me angriest, something I can’t stand, is when they take away my enthusiasm, hopes and future.
“When they take away the joy of sitting there doing the calculations, I feel even more nervous. I just won’t do it tonight. I honestly didn’t expect such an elimination.”
