Reijnders: ‘Milan defending is unacceptable, cannot be allowed to happen’ | OneFootball

Tijjani Reijnders admits the way Milan have been leaking goals lately is ‘unacceptable’ and they need to do better against Empoli this evening. ‘It is not allowed to happen.’

It kicks off at San Siro at 17.00 GMT.

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from this game, Como-Monza and Bologna-Venezia on the Liveblog.

The Rossoneri remarkably have a worse defensive record than their relegation battling opponents going into the game tonight, having conceded 14 goals in 12 games compared to Empoli’s 11 goals in 13 matches.

Reijnders warns Milan must improve defending

Christian Pulisic of AC Milan controls the ball whilst under pressure from Idjessi Metsoko of SK Slovan Bratislava during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD5 match between SK Slovan Bratislava and AC Milan at Narodny Futbalovy Stadion on November 26, 2024 in Bratislava, Slovakia. (Photo by Christian Hofer/Getty Images)

“Empoli is a team that wants to play man for man, so we need to be very dynamic, move them to different places, be good on the ball and it’s an important game for us,” Reijnders told DAZN.

They were particularly disappointing in the Champions League with the 3-2 midweek win away to Slovan Bratislava, giving away two extraordinarily cheap goals with naïve defending.

The Dutchman is tasked with sitting in front of the defence and protecting the midfield as well as going forward, but insists that defending is a team matter.

“We have to all be responsible, because the way we’ve been conceding goals is unacceptable and every single one of us has to stand up,” added Reijnders.

“It is not allowed to happen when we are at Milan and we need to show that today.”

The Diavolo have been able to keep only five clean sheets in 18 competitive matches so far this season, none in the Champions League.