Il Milan there is no more. The Scudetto team, solid, compact and ready to face any opponent face to face, got lost during the break of the World, even if even before, to tell the truth, it had shown several shortcomings. However, the Rossoneri in the 2023 version are really at their lowest terms, both from a physical and mental point of view, so much so that even the qualification for the next Champions League. The one that is more and more tempting to the Lazio of Sarri, author of a sumptuous performance: if it's true that Milan put their effort into it, it's also true that the Biancocelesti played almost perfectly, dominating their opponents from all points of view. Now the fight for second, third and fourth place (the first, barring cataclysms, is armored since Napoli, now +12 on their first pursuer) is very close, with Milan, Lazio, Inter, Roma and Atalanta in just 3 points: anything can happen, in short, even if the reigning Italian champions end up in Europa League.
Lazio – Milan 4-0, Sarri overwhelms Pioli and delivers half the Scudetto to Napoli
The final 4-0 (goals from Milinkovic-Savic, Zaccagni, Luis Alberto from a penalty and Felipe Anderson) is right and perfectly reflects the difference between the two teams. Sarri swept the confrontation with Pioli, first of all with the dominance in midfield which gave the Biancoceleste trident a constant one-on-one with the Milan defense. The Rossoneri coach, in the press conference on the eve, reiterated the impossibility of changing the game system, but in the light of the results, something will have to be done: on 4-2-3-1 it works if everyone applies their best, so instead it becomes a highway for the opponents, as demonstrated by the eleven goals conceded in the last four games, Super Cup including. Smiling the most, in addition to Lazio who find themselves in the middle of the Champions League, is certainly the Napoli, now very fast towards his third Scudetto. Of course, there is still a whole second round to go and there are 57 points available, but the +12 on Milan it's really a lot of stuff: Spalletti go ahead with the exorcisms, but losing this championship would really be sensational. The state of shape of the Milanese, moreover, it does not even authorize thinking about a comeback, while Lazio, Rome and Atalanta, although growing, are not structured to win practically all of them.
Pioli, black mood: "I only speak because I have to" – Maldini: "It's a difficult moment, but it's not all to be thrown away"
Black mood at home Milan, where to the wounds of Super Cup (still fresh) those are added of the Olympic. Humiliating defeat for Pioli, grappling with the first real crisis since 2019: yesterday's 4-0, moreover against a Lazio without Immobile, recalled the 5-0 remedied in Bergamo pre-Covid. But that was a Devil at the mercy of events, while this one still has the Scudetto on his chest and, at least until the match against Roma, seemed able to defend it. What happened afterwards is not known, what is certain however is that the technician will have to find one solution quickly, worth the risk out of the Champions League area. “I only speak because I have to, because otherwise we would just have to shut up and work – the laconic comment of Pioli -. Now we need to quickly go back to Milanello to work, it is clear that we are not playing at the level of our possibilities. At the moment there are so many things that don't work, there's the look mental, but also tactical, because just look at the first two goals to see that there are situations that we should read better. If it is the lowest moment of my management? It is definitely a delicate moment, it is clear that we must do much better all”. “We were eliminated in the Italian Cup, we lost badly in the Super Cup against Inter and immediately eleven goals in the last four games – the bitter account of Maldini -. It's a delicate moment, but last year we won for our spirit, we have to find it again without thinking that we are causing disasters. With all due respect to the critics, we are second in the standings alone, after reaching the Champions League and the Scudetto in two years, the team is still within its parameters".
Milan want Zaniolo, but the distance with Roma remains wide
To lend a hand to the technician could be the market, in the light of the now public interest for Zaniolo. The Giallorossi were already popular in the summer, but Roma's requests prevented any negotiations: a different scenario from the current one, even if Pinto he has no intention of selling off his jewel. The distance is there both on the evaluation (the Milan offers 25, Rome wants it at least 10 more) that on the formula (Maldini proposes the loan with the right to buy, Pinto demands the obligation), but the will of the player, now decided to leave the capital as early as January. “We don't have particular needs, but we'll see if there will be opportunities” Massara niched before the match, suggesting that the operation, however difficult, is still possible. Rome hopes for a lunge of the Tottenham, but the English could lend a hand to Milan, very close to closing for Danjuma of Villarreal: the Dutch attacker would close all space for Zaniolo, with the Rossoneri the only suitors.
Sarri rejoices: “A gift to Napoli? No, to ourselves"
Returning to the game, it is right to give space to the joy of Sarri, always more "commander" than this one Lazio: his hand is clearly seen, as well as the unity of purpose of a granite group and determined to play for the Champions League until the end. “It was one of the best matches since I've been here, if not the best, even if in terms of enjoyment I prefer the derby – the comment of the biancoceleste coach -. This group has recently given me great willingness to sacrifice for the teamwork, surprising me in a strong way. Let's hope that this availability continues, so as to remove the flaw of leaving points around against inferior teams on paper. There Champions? We have never exposed or hidden ourselves, we try to do our best and in the end we will sum up. On paper there are teams better equipped than us, now the important thing is to think about the next game and don't look too far. Un gift to Naples? If they are placed well in the standings for me it is a reason for satisfaction, but first of all we made a gift to ourselves, we wanted to demonstrate that we grew up against a team against which we had always lost last year".
