We want to play fast and energetic but we have Kjaer who's clearly gone. Giroud can't play anything but a plan B where we're camped in their box. Gabbia. Tata.
We need to decide what we want to do and then play the right sort of players. Giroud in this game is counterproductive, you're tiring him out for no reason. We should have done much better in set pieces with Kjaer, Gabbia, Krunic, Giroud, Origi... all high centimetri players. It's really sad how bad we are in set pieces.
1-0 isn't bad, we got dominated and walked away still with a chance. Leao, Rebic, CDK, Saelemaekeers... we have players on the bench that can run and hurt them.
I've defended Pioli before because I could always (until recently) understand what he's trying to do. I can sort of understand what he's doing today, but weird things like his addiction to Giroud is holding him back and will drag him to an unfortunate firing. It's so sad to see. Taking a gamble and dropping Leao but keeping faith with Giroud in the WORST sort of game for him? I can't understand that, and it's so unfortunate that when he finally takes a big risk and change he doesn't go all the way and tries to fit the right players (Rebic for Giroud, for example in this case).
I'm disappointed in him, I thought he was more self aware and intelligent than this.
