Pioli, the remedies for Milan in view of Tottenham. Garlando’s analysis

Like Federigo degli Alberighi (Decamerone), reduced to poverty out of love, resigned himself to cooking his falcon, so Stefano Pioli, at the height of the crisis, sacrificed his dear 4-2-3-1. He gives up no less painfully, because he worked on the form for 3 years and made him noble: champion of Italy. And then because that aggressive, courageous, dominant game was the pride of a young team that found more and more self-esteem by running forward, with or without the ball, even at Anfield against Liverpool. But now that the team is no longer racing and that, after the break, it has sensationally established itself (7 games without a win, 5 defeats), Pioli has been forced to change. It was necessary to come up with something to protect a defense traumatized by 18 goals in 7 games.

three medicines

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First idea: create density in midfield to prevent incursions and comfortable pockets, as disastrously happened against Lazio and Sassuolo: 9 goals conceded in two games. Hence the transition to the 3-man defense and the man recovered in the median. This is the first drug from Pioli’s recipe. The second is the one with the most bitter taste: mirroring oneself in the opponent. Milan, who won the Scudetto by proudly imposing their solid game identity, now that they are ill, are borrowing the identity of others. In the derby he followed Inter’s 3-5-2, against Turin he imitated the 3-4-2-1 grenade. If you abandon things you’ve tried for three years and start doing things that others know better, you expect difficulties. But it’s also true that when you’re sick, you have to think about getting well and not about being beautiful. Looking in the mirror simplifies defense, allows you to tie your opponent’s hands and prevent him from throwing punches. Milan, who had conceded 9 goals in the previous two matches, only conceded one against Inter Milan and Turin. It’s a fact. The pancera and the wool cap served to protect themselves. It wasn’t a pretty sight, but Pioli will think about the aesthetics once the recovery has taken place. The third drug is patience. Both against Inter and against Toro the desire for a cautious start was evident, to avoid nasty surprises that could have frightened a team already in crisis. The strategy involves gaining confidence during the match and pushing harder in the second half. The gap between the data for the first half of the derby and the second is blatant. The lesser pressure from Inter may have had an impact, but the attitude of the Rossoneri also has something to do with it. AC Milan passes in the first half: 126; in the second: 201. Shots in the first half: 0; in the second half: 4. Touches in the opposing area in the first half: 1; in the second: 6. Possession in the first half: 26.1%; in the second: 46.4%. Milan grows over time, but also from game to game. From the derby to Toro, the Diavolo advanced his center of gravity (45m-47.3m ) and the ball recovery line (33.8m-35.3m ) by 2 meters.

mirror count?

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It is Doctor Pioli’s cure: regaining confidence, men and the game a little at a time. On Friday the decisive things returned from Giroud and Theo and a good Kalulu was seen again. Above all, the real Leao, the soul of the Scudetto, is still missing. When he recovers men, trust and condition, Pioli will be able to put on his own tactical identity and not copy that of others. Then perhaps the old quality of play will be seen again because a Milan that doesn’t make a shot on goal in three halves (the two with Inter and the first with Toro) is not the real Milan. Meanwhile, Kane’s Tottenham arrive on Tuesday in the form of Turin (3-4-2-1). We’ll see if Pioli will be mirrored in Conte. Better not delude yourself about yesterday’s thud by the Spurs, flattened by Leicester 4-1. Better to convince yourself that it will be necessary to equalize the race and the intensity of the English. It won’t be easy for today’s Milan. But if the feat succeeds, healing will be much closer, because everything starts from the head. It was understood on Friday: the Devil ran more in the end, because the advantage gave lightness.