Sassuolo’s persistence earns Aquilani’s approval in 1‑1 draw with Milan

Sassuolo stayed in the contest against Milan and came away with a 1-1 draw, a response Alberto Aquilani valued as much as the point itself. The coach praised his players for not giving up and said the substitutes made a major contribution.

“We never gave up, and I am pleased with that,” Aquilani said. He added that the way the draw came gave him satisfaction against what he called “a strong opponent”. Milan’s status is reflected in the table: they are fifth after six matches and remain unbeaten.

Aquilani said Sassuolo began well, but gave Milan more space during the final 10 minutes of the first half. He also acknowledged that his side were less precise in some spells than in previous matches. His assessment was positive overall, though measured: “We are on the right track.”

The coach specifically credited the players who came on from the bench, saying they entered the game well and gave Sassuolo a major hand. That contribution mattered in a match where his side needed to keep competing against Milan rather than let the contest drift away. Aquilani’s comments point to persistence and the impact of his changes as the main positives, while his remarks on the first-half spell and Sassuolo’s precision identify areas to improve.

The draw leaves Sassuolo 10th with eight points from six games. Milan have 12 points, with three wins and three draws, and their unbeaten start continues. For Sassuolo, the result offers a point and a sign of progress in Aquilani’s view; the next test is an away trip to Frosinone on Friday, October 16.

Milan’s next match is at home to Atalanta on Sunday, October 18. Their unbeaten run will be on the line, while Sassuolo will look to carry the determination Aquilani praised into their next fixture.