Milan-Manchester United 0-1: goal in the Quarti Pogba and Red Devils ai in the Europa League

No one ever expected the perfect match of 2007, but the mess in the box that Manchester United’s goal generated early in the second half is a gift the English didn’t really need. Also because Milan, although full of bandages and band-aids, had once again led the first 45 minutes with personality and authority and, therefore, bit their hands for wasted opportunities. Following a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford, United won 1-0 at the San Siro with a goal early in the second half from Pogba, who had just entered, and flew into the quarter-finals. A shame because the first round had told us that the company was within our grasp and, in part, this challenge also worked.

False nine

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Pioli had to handle the usual medical devastation once again, and there’s really no way to bring a more simplified dimension back to the absentee list. With Ibra back after four games watched from outside, the Rossoneri manager hoped to have at least one between Rebic and Leao. Nothing to do, the result of the last controls has taken them off the scene, the first due to the usual inflammation in the hip and the other due to an injury to the thigh. Result: with Zlatan still unfit from the start, the choice at the heart of the attack fell on Castillejo (the alternative was Diaz), obviously delivering a false nine. Behind him Saelemaekers, Calhanoglu and Krunic. There is also no call for Calabria (he will be operated on the medial meniscus of the right knee) and Romagnoli (due to the captain’s calf injury), replaced by Kalulu and Tomori. Solskjaer lost Cavani a few hours before getting on the plane to Milan and had to yield to Martial, but compared to the first leg he recovered a great shot like Rashford from the first minute and Pogba for the bench. Delegations from the center forward to Greenwood.

Goalless rings

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The first part, despite Rossoneri’s absences, followed the same red line as the first leg. First ten minutes with strong English colors, with the ball constantly between the feet and Milan unable to get out of its median also due to serious errors of support (start of horror for Hernández, with three gifts in the first seven minutes). United especially insists on the right side, with James and Wan-Bissaka insertions, but not very good on Greenwood’s shot. Rashford? It practically fell short and forced an abundant coverage phase on the highly inspired Saelemaekers, aided by the Kalulu raids. Milan began to shake off the weight of the English pressure around the quarter hour, with a shot from Kessie that almost acted as a show of encouragement. And towards the middle of the fraction it went from being a team that only tried to anesthetize the game, to a proactive interpretation. At 24 ‘Calhanoglu – still out, still far from acceptable condition – left such a great opportunity in the middle of the area in an English distraction. Leisure that increased from then on: support errors, little pressure, little conviction. And so the Rossoneri finally separated, sliding into the spaces that Castillejo tried to open to his teammates with his movements. Before a gluttonous counterattack between the Spaniard and Kessie was not completed, and in the last four minutes there were two more occasions: a right shot from Saelemaekers, who found himself free to shoot at the end of a good maneuver, and a center from the Belgian to Krunic’s forehand shot, which hit badly and sent wide from a decidedly welcoming position. Important rings and clear messages to opponents.

Decisive Paul

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The second half started with Pogba on the field instead of Rashford, also in position: tall and wide on the left. A play that paid off immediately because it was the Frenchman who changed the result with a right-handed touch of the forehand in the area after a series of Rossoneri messes against Donnarumma. Above all, the inability of Calhanoglu first and Meite immediately after to free the area stands out. A freezing rain that dampened the enthusiasm of the Rossoneri and allowed United to gain meters. Saelemaekers tried again with his right foot (Henderson’s smanacciata) and at 20 ‘Pioli made the first two changes: out of Kalulu for Dalot but above all Castillejo for Ibra, who soon clarified his presence in the area with a header to overtake Shaw. who called Henderson to a half miracle. It will actually turn out to be the only concrete ring in the Swede, still far from the best of conditions. Pioli then also included Díaz (for Krunic), giving background to all available offensive options, but the second part of the second half became an overly frantic and lucid search for Milan’s goal, while on the other side he has continued Pogba. hold your peers by the hand with a test of total capital. A decisive tackle, which changed the inertia of the game and the tactical face of the English, although in the minutes of recovery an intervention by Wan-Bissaka on Ibra in the area is absolutely punishable by a penalty. Milan greets Europe, although it is most likely just goodbye. Now there is only the championship and a Champions zone to defend at all costs.