Pulisic, Giroud and Leao: Milan knocks out Lecce. And Chukwueze is reborn, Pioli: “His mind has changed, now…”

Pulisic, Giroud and Leao: Milan scores a hat-trick against Lecce

No problem for Milan who closed the game against Lecce 3-0 at San Siro, thanks to goals from the three attackers, Pulisic, Giroud and Leao. The Salento team, after a good first half, despite the two goals conceded, ended up with ten men due to Krstovic’s dismissal in the 45th minute and in the second half they were unable to react and conceded the Rossoneri’s hat trick. Stefano Pioli’s Rossoneri thus rise to 68 points (one more than the year they won the Scudetto on the same day) consolidating second place behind an unattainable Inter, while the Giallorossi remain at 29.

Pioli without the suspended Loftus-Cheek, chooses Chukwueze, Pulisic and Leao behind Giroud, with Adli in midfield, and Gabbia in defence. On the left we see Theo Hernandez again after the disqualification round. Third consecutive different lineup for Gotti, who fields Gonzalez, with Krstovic preferred to Piccoli in attack. Back starter Band on the right.

Lecce started well and in the 3rd minute they almost took the lead: on Venuti’s shot, Gabbia countered, but the ball ended up with Gonzalez who controlled it and kicked to cross, going close to the far post. However, another three minutes pass and Milan took the lead: in the 6th minute Chukwueze jumped Gallo and fed Pulisic who fired a shot to the far post to make it 1-0. The American came close to scoring a double in the 8th minute, with the number 11’s header on Theo Hernandez’s cross forcing Falcone into a great save. Milan dangerous again in the 11th minute: personal action by Chukwueze who widens for Leao whose first shot is deflected by Venuti and ends up on the outside of the net. In the 20th minute the Rossoneri doubled their lead thanks to Giroud who headed a corner kick (taken perfectly by Adli) to beat Falcone for 2-0. Gotti’s team reacts and in the 29th minute Ramadani crosses for Gonzalez who jumps with his head undisturbed but only finds the crossbar. The match changes again in the 45th minute with Krstović’s expulsion for a challenge with a very high foot against Chukwueze and Lecce finishing with ten men.

In the second half Gotti set his team up with a 4-4-1 with Almqvist and Dorgu as wingers in midfield, and Piccoli as the sole striker, but Milan found plenty of space. In the 55th minute, excellent exit from Falcone to anticipate Giroud. In the 57th minute the Rossoneri’s hat-trick arrives: Adli verticalizes for Leão who, face to face with Falcone, makes no mistake for the 3-0, but Lecce contests a blow suffered by Almqvist in the other area. The Salento team tried to react and in the 60th minute Gallo crossed to the far post for Almqvist, who headed it but was unable to get past Maignan. On the restart Milan often became dangerous and in the 61st minute Leao found Giroud who only found the outside of the net. The Rossoneri sink when they want and in the 64th minute Theo Hernandez’s curling shot is only stopped by the crossbar. However, Lecce does not give up playing and tries to make some moves forward. In the 76th minute Piccoli serves Almqvist who shoots with his right foot but Maignan is attentive. In the 82nd minute Milan were close to a poker with Chukwueze who poked in for Jovic who had just entered who kicked on the slide and found the response first from Falcone and then from Gendrey on the line. In the final Leao is still the protagonist but his cross shot is deflected by Gendrey and risks deceiving Falcone.

Giroud on the future: “I don’t want to talk about it: nothing is done. Proud to play for Milan”

In recent days there have been rumors about the Los Angeles Galaxy and the American MLS from July. On Saturday at San Siro then Giroud was a great protagonist in Milan’s 3-0 victory against Lecce. “I don’t want to talk about my future. I saw what came out in the press. There is nothing done. Today I am a Milan fan, an old Rossoneri heart. I am very proud to play for this team. I want to finish in the best way possible, then let’s see next year”, says the French striker to Dazn.

Milan, Pioli: “Objectives? Second in the league and reaching the bottom of the Europa League”

“Milan unpredictable? We try with positions that we prepare to cast doubt on the opponent’s defensive phase, we succeed due to the quality of my offensive players. We’re fine, we played the game we wanted to play. Now great attention and concentration for the first leg match in the Europa League quarter-finals, we must prepare as best we can.” the words of Milan coach Stefano Pioli to Dazn after the 3-0 success over Lecce. “I must say that we suffered and our fans did too, but what they did in difficult moments, that is, to come with great enthusiasm, with a lot of suffering and to fill San Siro, was never lacking. It is a great merit of this environment, we must try to take advantage of this enthusiasm. The next month and a half will be important. Now only the next one matters, opinions change quickly. We have a big goal, we want to be as competitive as possible in both competitions, finishing second in the league and reaching the bottom of the Europa League would be important. It is our goal, our motivation and we have to work hard,” added Pioli.

Milan, Pioli: “In the first 4 months we had a mid-table defensive phase”

“Has Milan found balance again? We have data that tells us that in the first 4 months our defensive phase was mid-table and we saved ourselves with the offensive phase. We didn’t just pay for a few injuries, but it took more careful pressure, better recoveries, midfield tackles, more careful handling of opponents’ insertions… – the words of AC Milan coach Stefano Pioli to Dazn – I think a lot of our improvements come from our defensive phase. The defensive phase depends a lot on will, sacrifice, communication… The offensive phase does not depend on the skill of the coach but on the skill of the players. While the defensive phase depends on the spirit, on the sacrifice, on the extra run, on the recoveries that Pulisic, Chukwueze, Leao now make… We must insist on these things.”

Milan, Pioli: “Pulisic? He has fantastic attitudes: an exemplary professional”

Did you expect to bring a player like Pulisic to Milan? “I must say that when I have video meetings to explain to a player what our path and ideas are, I am rarely wrong about personal and character sensations. Pulisic is a quality player, I already knew him. But when we spoke 2-3 times I felt something very positive – explains the Milan coach to Dazn – I saw desire and curiosity in him. I found everything I had heard. He’s not a guy who opens up a lot, he’s not the one who makes the difference but he has the attitudes. He has fantastic attitudes, for the team and for everyone. An exemplary worker and professional like all Milan players, this has raised the level of professionalism and seriousness that will help the group become ever stronger. Then sometimes the results arrive, sometimes they don’t… Between entries and exits we changed more than 20 players, it wasn’t easy. Is this the Milan I was hoping for? We’re close. Now if we are well we have to raise the level, now there are matches for which the level must be very high.”

Milan, Pioli: “Chukwueze has changed his mind. Now he has confidence and believes in what he does”

Samuel Chukwueze confirms the signs of growth in recent weeks. The Nigerian right winger was one of the best on the pitch in Milan’s victory against Lecce: “His mind has changed. Now he has confidence, he’s positive, he believes in what he does. He knows better what the team has to do on the pitch. He’s a quality player. I’m very happy for him because he’s been through a difficult time “From the outside it seems like everything is rosy but the boys are under significant pressure. He believed in it and worked hard and this pleases me, the club and the team.” underlines Stefano Pioli on Milan TV. On the roar of the fans for Theo Hernandez: “How nice, it’s exciting. Theo and also Oli. Player that the fans have learned to appreciate. I’m lucky enough to coach them: nice when the value of your players, both technical and moral, is recognized by your fans”