Divock Origi and the AC Milan squad were forced to stand and listen to their club’s furious ultras after a 2-0 loss to relegation candidates Spezia on Saturday. Origi, who has endured a tough time in his first season at Milan, started the game and played the full 90 minutes, touching the ball 24 times, completing eight of his 14 attempted passes (57%), creating no chances and having just one shot on goal. After the game, the Belgian and his team-mates were led over to the travelling fans, a group of ultras known as the Curva Sud, to discuss their recent form. The footage went viral, with Origi stood at the back as the squad listened intently to their passionate supporters.
Stefano Pioli admitted in his post-match press conference that what happened under the Curva was a positive thing and that they just stimulated the players to give their maximum. As explained by journalist Mark Pasatto for La Gazzetto dello Sport, the discussion was “certainly unprecedented” but was seen as more of a “‘call to order’ in view of the second leg with Inter.” The Milan squad then headed to the dressing room as the Curva Sud chanted “come on fight, you will win” and “we want 11 lions” in their native Italian. Supporters then attended Sunday’s training session in Milan, with Pioli and his players thanking them for their backing as they were, again, met with chants. These were stunning scenes in La Spezia that best show the differences in footballing culture from Divock Origi’s former home of England and now Italy.