Sacchi claims Milan are ‘no longer a team’ and believes Scudetto ‘destabilised’

Arrigo Sacchi believes that AC Milan are no longer playing as a team and even suggested that the Scudetto win has had a destabilising effect.

Milan hit a new low yesterday as relegation battlers Sassuolo walked into the San Siro and put five past them in what was another appalling defensive display by a side that have now let in 18 goals in January alone.

The Rossoneri are no longer fighting to retain their title of being champions of Italy but they now face a battle just to stay in the top four, knowing that missing out on the Champions League would have a huge impact on the club’s project.

Sacchi was interviewed by La Gazzetta dello Sport for his weekly column and he spoke about the current struggles that Milan are experiencing and the problems afflicting Pioli’s team, with his comments relayed by SempreMilan.it.

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“Milan are no longer a team. They won the Scudetto playing as a team and now those characteristics have been lost. It can happen. Playing ‘as a team’ is not an ethical imperative, but it allows us to be more efficient,” he began.

“You have to be patient with young players. These guys found themselves in a particular condition: from being semi-unknowns they found themselves, after having deservedly won the Scudetto, suddenly projected onto the stage. This can destabilise.

“George Bernard Shaw claimed that football, in ninety minutes, embodies universal history. In a match there is everything, and this ‘everything’ can lead to exaltation or depression. Milan were a team of great movement, the departments were always connected and close, the players helped each other.

“They played as the founding fathers had imagined they should be done: football is a collective and attacking sport, while in Italy we have always considered it an individual and defensive sport. Milan stood out, they were European. Not anymore.”

“First step? Going back to being a team. At Milan there are many guys who don’t have much experience and maybe they aren’t technically at the top. If they play individually, they’ll be found out.”