Stefano Pioli lamented Rafael Leao's "strange" lack of form after the Milan forward endured another underwhelming outing in Monday's 1-1 Serie A draw with Salernitana.
The Rossoneri failed to capitalise on slip-ups from top-four rivals Inter, Roma and Lazio as Olivier Giroud's first-half header was cancelled out by Boulaye Dia after the break.
In a wasteful display which saw Milan record 24 shots but draw just two saves from Salernitana's Guillermo Ochoa, Leao attempted a game-high five shots – none of which found the target.
Having reportedly attracted interest from a host of European giants including Manchester City, Chelsea and Real Madrid after helping Milan win the Scudetto last season, Leao has struggled in recent weeks.
The Portugal forward has gone 10 games without scoring since finding the net at Lecce in January, leading Pioli to bemoan his inability to replicate his promising performances in training.
"Being close to my players is my priority, when things are going well or badly," Pioli said when asked whether Leao would benefit from more criticism.
"Leao's strange situation is this – in training he does very well, he moves a lot and does everything very well, then in the game he does less. He has to find a middle ground."
Milan's frustrating performance came five days after they secured a Champions League quarter-final spot with a 1-0 aggregate win over Tottenham, and Pioli refused to use fatigue as an excuse.
"No, there was no tiredness, but a lack of quality and players in the area," he said. "We weren't as fast as we could be, or as careful.
"When I have the team review the goal that we conceded… it was too easy to score. We had to manage the game better. We tried, but we had to be brighter and more precise."
Milan were denied a penalty shortly after Salernitana's equaliser, with referee Federico La Penna reversing his decision to award a spot-kick for Domagoj Bradaric's challenge on Ismael Bennacer after being sent to the VAR monitor.
Asked about that incident, Pioli said: "I honestly didn't see it again after the match, so I can't judge it honestly. Otherwise, I would say what I think."
Jurgen Klopp defends 'unlucky' Darwin Nunez amid Liverpool exit talk
Jurgen Klopp insists he is not aware of any speculation regarding the future of Darwin Nunez as he defended the out-of-form forward.
Nunez missed a good chance in last weekend's 4-2 win over Tottenham as his run without a goal extended to an eighth game in all competitions.
The Uruguay international came in for criticism and later deleted all images of himself in a Liverpool shirt on his personal Instagram account.
Rumours regarding a possible end-of-season exit for Nunez have circulated in recent weeks, with Barcelona supposedly among those interested.
However, when asked about the 24-year-old at Friday's press conference, Klopp said: "There is no speculation. That must be external.
"I'm not involved in that anymore. It's just the situation we're in. He was definitely not happy missing that chance [against Tottenham].
"He has been unlucky in so many situations. He does everything right and the ball doesn't go in. There are no alternatives but going through it."
Nunez has 31 goals and assists combined in all competitions this season - a tally only Mohamed Salah (38) can better among Liverpool players.
He is in contention to feature for Liverpool against Aston Villa on Monday as the Reds look to end Klopp's tenure on a winning run.
The German has just two games left in charge, with the contest at Villa Park followed by the visit of Wolves at Anfield six days later.
Klopp risks having to watch that Anfield finale from the stands, though, as he will incur a touchline suspension should he receive a yellow card against Villa.
Asked about that possibility, Klopp told reporters: "I've known this for a long time. I've only got two yellow cards [this season]. A few of my colleagues have already got suspended, so I've got calmer over the years.
"I don't need to be on the touchline [for the final game with Wolves], but it would be cool. It will not be from my side, but I will try absolutely everything not to be involved in any discussions!"
Everton withdraw appeal against two-point Premier League deduction
Everton have withdrawn their appeal against a two-point deduction issued for a breach of the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules.
Last November, the Toffees were hit with a 10-point deduction for breaching the competition's financial rules during a four-year assessment period ending in 2021-22, though that penalty was reduced to six points on appeal.
They were then – along with Nottingham Forest – charged with breaching again in the period culminating in the end of last season.
An independent commission found Everton had exceeded the maximum loss limit of £105million by £16.6m during that latter period, issuing a further two-point deduction, which the club pledged to appeal.
However, Everton have since secured safety with relative ease, winning four straight home games against Burnley, Nottingham Forest, Liverpool and Brentford last month.
They now sit 11 points clear of the bottom three with just two games remaining ahead of Saturday's meeting with already-relegated Sheffield United.
Having seen Forest fail in an attempt to overturn or reduce a four-point penalty for their breach, Everton have opted to let their punishment stand.
In a statement, the club said: "Everton Football Club has withdrawn its appeal of the decision by a Premier League independent commission to impose a two-point penalty for a breach of profit and sustainability rules for the accounting period ending in June 2023.
"A hearing, scheduled for later this month, will now not proceed and the club will conclude the 2023-24 season with the two-point deduction remaining in place."
While Everton have confirmed their top-flight status for next season, uncertainty continues to surround the club, with a prospective takeover by Miami-based investment group 777 Partners yet to be ratified, despite the deal being agreed in September.
The Everton Shareholders' Association (EFCSA) has called for majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri to cancel the deal amid continued doubts regarding 777's ability to fund the club.
Arsenal star Rice a worthy Player of the Season contender, believes Parlour
Declan Rice deserves to be in contention for the Premier League's Player of the Season award and has proven to be the best signing of the campaign, says former Arsenal midfielder Ray Parlour.
Rice joined Arsenal from West Ham in a £105million deal last July and has had a transformative impact, helping Mikel Arteta's side push Manchester City all the way in the title race.
On Thursday, Rice – alongside Arsenal team-mate Martin Odegaard – was named as one of eight nominees for the Premier League's Player of the Season prize, with the likes of Phil Foden, Erling Haaland and Virgil van Dijk also on the shortlist.
As well as helping Arsenal maintain the Premier League's best defensive record in 2023-24, Rice has carried the ball further than any other player in the competition (7,520m), while only seven players have bettered his 147 carries progressing the ball at least 10 yards upfield.
Parlour says Rice's style reminds him of former Manchester United and England captain Bryan Robson, describing the Gunners man as a true box-to-box midfielder.
Parlour, an ambassador for NetBet, told Stats Perform: "Mark Noble's not too far away from me and I'd always ask, 'Mark, is Declan coming to Arsenal?' He'd always say, 'I don't think you can afford him!'
"I'm so pleased they stumped up the money and he's been brilliant. I never doubted him really because I know his attitude is very good. He wants to learn, he wants to get better.
"I think with [Thomas] Partey coming in as well, he can get forward a little bit more. He's a little bit more dangerous. He's got a good way of passing, he can probably score more goals if I'm being honest.
"The way he plays is like the old-fashioned midfielders. I go back to the older era with people like Bryan Robson, where you'd have to go box-to-box, and he can do that.
"He's got the energy to do that, so I like him to get forward a little bit more, but he's been absolutely superb this year and he's certainly my player of the season."
Defender William Saliba has joined Bukayo Saka in being nominated for Young Player of the Year honours, and Parlour believes the Frenchman is one of several Gunners worthy of recognition.
"There's been a lot of good performances, though. The two centre-backs have stayed fit this year and they've been excellent, Gabriel and Saliba," He added.
"Martin Odegaard has been absolutely brilliant as well, he always wants the ball, his vision is very, very good.
"But I think Declan has certainly stood out as the signing of the season and then probably player of the season for Arsenal."
Ray Parlour was speaking on behalf of NetBet Sports Betting https://sport.netbet.co.uk
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