Milan play 1v1 football all over the field. This tends to result in bookings. No surprise there, so not sure why we are talking about it as if it's anything new. Thiaw made the same mistake vs Inter and that cost us a goal. So it's a bit more concerning for me that he's repeating the same mistakes.
But the most frustrating part are Pioli's substitutions. I really don't remember the last time a Pioli substitution changed the match IN OUR favor. I thought Adli was playing well. Defending and attacking, holding the ball, etc. Making 2 like for like subs in the 60th minute, on the dot, wad really unnecessary. But especially, replacing Adli with Krunic.....who apart from playing a part in their goal, did absolutely NOTHING. Jovic is a shit player anyway, so that one is what it is. But also, Allegri throws on an 18 year old LCB on the field, and we kept Leao on our left to play against Bremer in a man down situation????? I mean, it's a no brainer. Move Leao to the right.
But anyway. It is what it is. Another big game where we seem to beat ourselves. Defending 1v1 is fine, but the players have to realize when to play tight and press, and when they have zero help and 40 meters behind them to cover...in other words, stall and wait for everyone to get back in position. It's really frustrating that Thiaw misread that situation like he did against Inter. Defending 1v1 doesn't always mean that you go aggressively to the player like a lunatic in every single situation.
Last comment, on the referee. How is it possible that Gatti (and other players going against Leao in general) made that many fouls and was only booked in the 70th minute? How is it possible that Locatelli didn't get a yellow for blatantly stopping a quick forward movement by digging his knee into our player? Doesn't mean we would have won with those cards, but it does change the game. Even the dumbass Paramount commentator said "Gatti now has to start playing against Leao differently". Well, yes....but when? In the 70th minute after they are 1-0 up? And Allegri took him out a couple minutes later....so yea, problem solved, game won. Gatti should have gotten a card 20 mins in, and not 20 mins from the end.
But the most frustrating part are Pioli's substitutions. I really don't remember the last time a Pioli substitution changed the match IN OUR favor. I thought Adli was playing well. Defending and attacking, holding the ball, etc. Making 2 like for like subs in the 60th minute, on the dot, wad really unnecessary. But especially, replacing Adli with Krunic.....who apart from playing a part in their goal, did absolutely NOTHING. Jovic is a shit player anyway, so that one is what it is. But also, Allegri throws on an 18 year old LCB on the field, and we kept Leao on our left to play against Bremer in a man down situation????? I mean, it's a no brainer. Move Leao to the right.
But anyway. It is what it is. Another big game where we seem to beat ourselves. Defending 1v1 is fine, but the players have to realize when to play tight and press, and when they have zero help and 40 meters behind them to cover...in other words, stall and wait for everyone to get back in position. It's really frustrating that Thiaw misread that situation like he did against Inter. Defending 1v1 doesn't always mean that you go aggressively to the player like a lunatic in every single situation.
Last comment, on the referee. How is it possible that Gatti (and other players going against Leao in general) made that many fouls and was only booked in the 70th minute? How is it possible that Locatelli didn't get a yellow for blatantly stopping a quick forward movement by digging his knee into our player? Doesn't mean we would have won with those cards, but it does change the game. Even the dumbass Paramount commentator said "Gatti now has to start playing against Leao differently". Well, yes....but when? In the 70th minute after they are 1-0 up? And Allegri took him out a couple minutes later....so yea, problem solved, game won. Gatti should have gotten a card 20 mins in, and not 20 mins from the end.