Three takeaways from AC Milan 0-1 Udinese: Rossoneri's rotten form putting Pioli under pressure
AC Milan fell to a 1-0 defeat to Udinese at the Stadio San Siro in Matchday 11 of Serie A, as the Rossoneri lost further ground in the title race.
The match was settled by a Roberto Pereyra penalty shortly after the hour mark, as a change in tactics failed to pay off for the Rossoneri.
Defeat leaves them six points behind Inter in the battle for the scudetto, as Milan have recorded just a single win in their last six matches in all competitions.
Milan's form becoming cause for concern
Leaving the pitch to a chorus of whistles from their own fans, Milan have seen their form nosedive recently and the loss to the Zebrette was the final straw for some supporters.
The Rossoneri have failed to impress since a 2-0 triumph over Lazio at the end of September and their only victory since was a late win over newly promoted Genoa, whilst they fumbled a two-goal lead against Napoli last time out.
With Inter hitting their stride and looking imperious at the top of the Serie A table, Milan can’t afford to be dropping so many points and a failure to strike against a struggling Udinese side leaves the Diavolo six points off their bitter rivals.
Rooted to the bottom of their Champions League group and with a crunch match against Paris Saint-Germain to come, Milan’s season is in danger of spiralling unless they can get a grip on it soon.
Pressure mounts on Pioli
Pioli wrote himself into the history books at Milan with his 2022 scudetto triumph, but time looks to be running out for the 58-year-old tactician as his side hit another bad patch of form.
With the club desperate for more silverware, Pioli appears to be losing his grip and Milan are well off the boil at the moment, heaping more pressure on the coach.
The former Lazio coach needs his luck to change or it could prove to be a long and trying campaign for those of a Rossoneri persuasion, and perhaps his stint at the San Siro has run it's course.
Jovic fails to make most of opportunity
With a need to find a result and injuries making an impact, Pioli decided to switch things up and put Luka Jovic in attack alongside Olivier Giroud, but the Serbia international couldn't make the most of his chance.
The ex-Fiorentina striker failed to make an impact before being withdrawn at half-time, and his inability to stretch the Udinese defence and fashion out any chances meant his time on the pitch was always going to be limited.
With Giroud the undisputed first choice striker in Pioli's usual system, Jovic had the chance to force himself into the reckoning but did little to suggest he is the answer to fixing Milan's poor form.