The main game in the last 16 of the Europa League provided no small drama, when a touchdown by Simon Kerr in extra time saved a 1-1 draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford, and an expensive away goal for Milan ahead of the rematch.
Rossoneri coach, Stefano Fioli, Was of course pleased with the late equalizer: “The compliments come to the players, they played with character and wanted to take control of the game. They managed to face the difficult moments against a quality opponent, today was an important performance that restored our confidence. It is a very good result, but we still need “We will earn our place in the next stage. We will have to play at a high level to oust the good opponent in front of us. Now we will focus on the league, because we have very little time to recover.”
“I keep repeating to my players that I am not coaching a regular team,” Fioli complimented. “Except one exceptional in every way. At the beginning of the game we would sign the result, and in the end we were happy, but we could have done more. It will be difficult in return, but we have shown that we are capable of facing a good opponent. Since September we play every four days, but friend “They did not give up. This is a crucial period in the Europa League and in the league. Now we will have to play in Napoli, then again against Manchester United, and then to Florence, and then those who do not go into the national team break will be able to breathe.”
The bad news for the Red Devils is that out of the last eight times they have not won the first game, they have been eliminated in six European knockouts, with the last time being against Barcelona in the 2018/19 Champions League. Will she be able to break the statistics at San Siro?
Whoever was at the center of criticism was Harry Maguire, Who could have scored as early as the end of the first half, but inches in front of goal, he kicked the ball to the crossbar instead of into the net. “I do not know how it did not go in,” admitted the English stopper. “I had to score. I tried to react quickly, but I had to put it in the net, no excuses. I had a great opportunity in the first half and there were more good situations. At 0-1 we were in great shape, but they equalized in a stationary position. We had a frustrating game. For 90 minutes, we did not play well. “
The one who did score for United was Amado Diallo in the 50th minute. In only his third appearance on the team, the 18-year-old striker found the net with what was his first goal kick ever in a United uniform. “He’s probably the only thing that was positive tonight,” Captain Maguire complimented him. “He shone and he deserves credit for that, the goal gave him confidence. He studies every day, works hard in training and he’s going to be a great lazy player.”
The team coach, Ola-Gunnar Solskjaer, We concluded: “We are disappointed that we absorbed from one of the last situations, it dropped it to a harder of course, but it was in any case reciprocated. The misses? It happens that you do not connect to the ball as you want, we could have scored a goal or two more, “Especially in the second half. A draw is a fair result.”
However, Solskjaer’s friend in United’s locker room, Paul Scholes, He disagreed with him in the BT studio: “I really do not think a draw was fair, they managed to extract a draw. 1: 1 at home is a bad result. I know they are good outside, but now they have to show reciprocity it will not be easy. They will get some of the good players “Their back, and Milan is a bit better with the foreign goal they have.”
