In a decisive clash that left no room for doubt, AC Milan showcased their dominance with a resounding 3-0 victory over Lecce in the Coppa Italia. The match, held at the iconic San Siro on Tuesday night, quickly turned into a one-sided affair following the controversial red card issued to Lecce’s Jamil Siebert just 18 minutes into the game. Head coach Eusebio Di Francesco candidly acknowledged the insurmountable challenge his team faced after Siebert’s dismissal, stating simply, “there was no game.”
Milan’s attacking prowess was on full display as they capitalized on their numerical advantage, with goals from Santiago Gimenez, Christopher Nkunku, and the ever-reliable Christian Pulisic sealing their fate. The match transitioned into a mere formality as Lecce struggled to mount any offense, a situation exacerbated by Di Francesco’s decision to rotate his squad heavily for this knockout round.
Reflecting on the match, Di Francesco took a moment to shoulder some of the blame, revealing that his strategy of making ten changes was a gamble that ultimately didn’t pay off. “It was the fair result,” he commented in a post-match interview with Italia 1, emphasizing the futility of the contest following Siebert’s exit. “The approach wasn’t great… I find it difficult to judge our game, but I told the boys that I want to see a different type of performance on Sunday.”
The coach also addressed the performance of Milan loanee Francesco Camarda, who found himself largely isolated and unable to contribute effectively to Lecce’s attack. Di Francesco noted, “We weren’t good at intercepting and resetting. He did what he could do.” Despite the dire circumstances, the coach opted to keep Camarda on the pitch until the final whistle, wanting to assess the capabilities of other players like Gorter in a situation that had already spiraled out of control.
As the dust settles on this lopsided encounter, Milan will surely take confidence from their commanding display, while Lecce must regroup and find a way to recover from this significant setback ahead of their next challenge. The stakes remain high, and both teams will be eager to reestablish their presence as the Coppa Italia progresses.
