Over the summer, AC Milan reset. There have been many questions about its success, but one thing is clear: the support is strong.
It is debatable whether Milan have a better starting team than they did last season. There are certainly stronger areas, but there are parts that have lost out. Then, you can question the team as a whole.
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Ultimately, is the Rossoneri squad as strong as it was top to bottom last season? Again, there have been discussions about that. Yet, there is an interesting fact that can be noted, even whilst these debates are ongoing.
Strong subs
Massimiliano Allegri has continually claimed that the club ‘raised the team’s level’ this summer, and there is certainly some evidence to that. From the bench against Bologna, as Gazzetta dello Sport write, Allegri was able to throw €100 million worth of players on.
In that game, Samuele Ricci, Christopher Nkunku and Christian Pulisic all made impacts, whilst Koni De Winter helped shore up the defence.
So far, we have seen that the Italian is strong on impacting games from the bench, so having this available to him is a massive advantage. In fact, now Allegri can call upon the second-most-expensive substitute bench in the division.
Only Juventus offer more, with a value of €424m, then the Rossoneri with €339m, Napoli €247m and Inter with €188m. Rafael Leao also needs to be added to this squad, which should only increase the bench’s value.
So, whilst debates can persist about the quality of the starters, Allegri can smile, knowing he can rely on quality from the bench, which he already has shown to love doing.
If that remains the “bench,” one of those players who is currently valued at 50M euro will not sign his extension and transfer out of Milan even before the World Cup.
Completely agree.
This next game will tell all.
We most certainly have better team this season but that is most due to Allegri.