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Milan coach Stefano Pioli insisted that his team must play at the highest level when they face Roma in the second leg of the Europa League quarter-finals.
Milan lost at home in the San Siro, 0-1, to Roma, while the second leg will be played in Roma’s stronghold, the Olimpico, next Thursday.
Pioli said in statements highlighted by the Italian Tuttomercato website: “We had to make clearer choices in the first half, either attack or wait and make rebounds.”
He added: “It was not our best evening from a technical standpoint. We threw a lot of balls into the area, but unfortunately we were unable to find the goal ball.”
He continued: “We shot a lot from outside the area because they closed the spaces well, and we were not very accurate and we are sorry for that. The next 90 minutes we must be at the highest level because we have the ability to do so.”
There were some controversial refereeing decisions during the match, as Milan objected to the goal shot because Lukaku was suspected of offside, and the ball also touched Abraham’s hand inside the area.
Regarding the match’s referee’s performance, Pioli commented: “Abraham wanted to head the ball, so he took it with his hand. Unfortunately, we are not lucky with this referee.”
He added: “We have to prepare better. We will have every opportunity to play in the next round, but we will have to increase our level of speed and play.”
Source: Koura