GdS: Milan’s defensive form in 2023 is in line with those threatened by relegation

By Euan Burns -

The defensive form that AC Milan is currently showing in Serie A puts them in line with teams that are going to be relegated from the division, a report highlights.

As has been reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport (via Pianeta Milan), the Rossoneri have now conceded 25 goals in 2023 across all competitions which is only less than Cremonese.

They have only won one game all season and are fighting to avoid relegation, rather than fighting to qualify for the Champions League.

Another three goals went into the Milan net on Saturday night when they were beaten 3-1 by Udinese at the Dacia Arena in what was another highly concerning display.

Both Fikayo Tomori and Malick Thiaw had particularly bad games at the back whilst Pierre Kalulu was not much better. The return of Mike Maignan has not had the effect on the defenders that many assumed it would have and Stefano Pioli must find a remedy.

Tags AC Milan Fikayo Tomori Malick Thiaw Stefano Pioli

20 Comments

  1. But some were blaming Tatarusanu for Tomori, Kalulu, Kjaer, Gabbia getting beat like a drum.
    This same Tomori had a temper tantrum like a toddler after every conceded goal putting the blame on Tata.
    The reason for his drop in form is simple. Kessie kept the danger away the last 2 seasons making both Tomori and Kalulu look good.
    Also teams have figured out Tomori and Kalulu. Both of them are good when they press high but they are awful in positioning, so if you can shield the ball from them at the initial press and move it fast, the space they leave behind with their aggressiveness will allow you clear path on goal, as we have seen this season.
    Sign Ndicka for free , sell Tomori (if there is any interest for him from EPL)

  2. if that first goal was Tatarusanu in goal everyone would had yell that he is because we lose and not the defence. SempreMilan keept blaming Tatarusanu for Tomori’s mistake for months…

    1. Exactly, Tata was taking all the blame. And if not Tata then Calabria. But the real problem were the CB’s. Or the way Pioli deploy the CB’s. They are always going too up the field and becouse of it they are constantly geting caught out of position.

      1. Yes.

        What Pioli did in beginning of the season, is he was full attack with all players. cb ‘s would go deep in attack, that’s how kalulu hit post against Napoli. And not just them, Calabria is always somehow in 16 meters opposite side and scorer.

        But in 2023 that game play completely fell apart, and trio cb’s now managed to have big holes in defence, because still Pioli plays his game even it is now not effectively any more.

        Why is not effective? Milan bring poor players in mercato, lost Leao before season all because of the money, and everything Is all about bloody money.

        Cardinale made Milan to be Atalanta II in his own way.

        1. If you don’t want it to be about money then stop going on about money.

          There’s nothing anyone can do about money other than sell the club to some oligarch. Even then players would still leave for the enrichment of themselves and their agents. This is modern football and it’s awful.

          One way of making it less awful is to stop worrying about money. At least that allows fans to focus on the current team rather than the former team or some hypothetical future team.

          None of this would make much of a difference anyway when the system isn’t working. We don’t need better players to beat Udinese or Salernitana unless you’re saying that these teams have better players than Milan?

        2. If you don’t want it to be about money then stop going on about money.

          There’s nothing anyone can do about money other than sell the club to some oligarch. Even then players would still leave for the enrichment of themselves and their agents. This is modern football and it’s awful.

          One way of making it less awful is to stop worrying about money. At least that allows fans to focus on the current team rather than the former team or some hypothetical future team.

          None of this would make much of a difference anyway when the system isn’t working. We don’t need better players to beat Udinese or Salernitana unless you’re saying that these teams have better players than Milan?

      2. It’s not one player or even system. It’s more complicated than that.

        If the press that Milan perfected the last few seasons was easy to reproduce then every team would do it including this exact same Milan team.

        Contrary to many of the comments here last season was not a once off. Milan have had title winning form for most of the past 2 years including as recently as November.

        Whatever happened since the World Cup (or specifically the Roma game) has knocked Milan out of their stride and one of the main areas that have been affected is the press.

        With the press less intense it’s exposed weaknesses at the back.

        The way the press is supposed to work is the defence pushes up creating a smaller pitch and the risk of a higher line is managed because the other team has less time on the ball to pick out a defence splitting pass.

        But if one element isn’t working the whole system breaks down and that is what we’re witnessing.

  3. Please stop re-directing criticism and attention towards Maldini and Massara, they are a different story. Pioli must take full responsibility for the team’s performances on the pitch. You would need 200m mercato to beat Udinese or Fiorentina?

    1. Exactly. Was Udinese & Salernitana’s rosters better than Milan’s? Nope. Still those teams played better than Milan did. It’s on the coach to make the players play as a team and Milan doesn’t play as a team. Simple.

    1. Milan fans aren’t (and shouldn’t be) accustomed to mediocre players. The players need to do better. If you’re fine with drawing teams such as Salernitana, go support Inter or Roma then. For Milan it’s either 3p or GTFO.

      1. Agreed, these players are mediocre. It was a miracle last season we won scudetto. And that is the beauty of supporting Milan, we won title with “mediocre player”. Even 2007 UCL trophy, with all due respect Milan was considered mediocre compared to the likes of Barcelona, Galacticos Real Madrid and never be a favorite to win. I watched Milan since 98, since the first time serie a aired in my country. Since then I never seen Milan won back to back scudetto. This is my timeline supporting Milan. Unlike some fans who might look at wikipedia. If you want big name players on the club, you can support Al Nassr.

        1. “Even 2007 UCL trophy, with all due respect Milan was considered mediocre compared to the likes of Barcelona, Galacticos Real Madrid and never be a favorite to win.”

          True. That win was 90% Kaká. He was carrying the team on his shoulders that (UCL-)season.

      2. It’s not about anyone being fine with draws with Salernitana.

        It’s about simplistic BS.

        If Milan’s players are “mediocre”, what are Salernitana’s?

        Go on, if Milan players are like FIFA OVR (or whatever the term is) 70 and Salernitana are what? [what BS “rating” should we give them?] FIFA OVR 60, how did a 60 team draw with a 70 team?

        Does it matter?

        The great Milan times as with all great teams had bang average players.

        Angelo Colombo?

        Stefano Nava?

        Ibrahim Ba?

        Bruno Ngotty?

        Andrés Guglielminpietro?

        Kakha Kaladze?

        Cristian Brocchi?

        Are these the super-duper-world-class-OVR-90+ players you had in mind?

        Or were these players part of great teams that were great because players like this could be great?

        That is the essence of a successful team. It’s been the essence of this Milan team that has competed at the top of the table for more than 2 years.

        1. Colombos, navas , gulis and brocchis were still far better and more committed to some of the current players. But MOST OF ALL, those Milan teams had multiple SUPERSTARS who lifted the level of others. That is what GOATs do – they lift the level of others as well. The best two from current team (Theo & Giroud) are waaaaay behind the level of the players Milan had in the 90s and early-2000. And two ain’t enough. We need two superstars in defense, two in midfield and 1-2 in attack. That’s how you raise the level of saelemaekers’s, tonalis, brocchis & navas.

          1. I doubt you were actually watched them played back then. And no, Theo and Giroud are on the same level with them or at least close to their level. Reigning champion and world cup finalist. However, I agree with you we need more superstar. But with this owner and budget it is impossible to buy a superstar, we need to make them just like we made Pirlo, Kaka, Thiago Silva and others. The problem is, we need a better coach. Pioli has already become a symbol of Milan revival, respect to him. No Milan coach since Allegri that able to bring Milan this far, and tbh Allegri got easier job with players he had. But with all respect to Pioli, he had difficulties to manage young player and “unlock” their potential quickly. For me, he needs to go. He is not fit with Milan’s current business model.

          2. “I doubt you were actually watched them played back then. ”

            Not all but I remember seeing N’Gotty, Guly, Kaladze, Brocchi playing. I’ve followed the Rossoneri since ’89 but obviously back then I couldn’t watch every single game as today.

          3. “I doubt you were actually watched them played back then.”

            And the same applies to you too. I doubt your country televised all the Milan matches back then and/or you weren’t in the stands either all the time. 😉

          4. I agree on Pioli though. I have a huge respect for Pioli and what he has done. BUT! The team has lost the momentum they gained during the Covid-19 and it seems Pioli has no idea how to handle the current team and its form.

            He fields the same men in same formation with the same (lack of) tactics no matter what. Win or lose, everything is the same. That’s not how you win titles. You MIGHT do it once but a “one trick pony” doesn’t win constantly. The luck is out and now we need tactics. And we got none. Or Pioli does. It seems every fan has an idea or two but the one in charge doesn’t. So it’s time for a change. Either by the coach or the coach needs to be changed.

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