Former AC Milan midfielder Massimo Ambrosini picked out a couple of aspects – or rather a couple of players – that left him unimpressed during the 2-2 draw against Torino to begin the season.
Milan’s 2024-25 Serie A season began in a dramatic way as they battled from two goals behind to salvage a point against Paolo Vanoli’s Torino side, who had executed a perfect game plan up until the closing moments.
The first Torino goal came in bizarre circumstances as Malick Thiaw failed to clear a ball off the line, while Duvan Zapata got the second for the Granata with a header from deep inside the box after Thiaw let him go.
The substitutions injected life as Alvaro Morata opened his account for the Diavolo with an instinctive finish, and then Noah Okafor thumped in a volley in added time to complete the comeback and earn a draw.
Ambrosini covered the game as a pundit for DAZN and at full-time he offered his assessments after what was a rollercoaster match and he began by commenting on Loftus-Cheek, with his comments relayed by PianetaMilan.
“Today Loftus-Cheek had little impact as a midfielder, he was neither good in defence nor in attack. Moved further forward he could perhaps be more incisive.”
Then, he went on to talk about Luka Jovic’s role as he struggled to get involved in the game. With Alvaro Morata and Noah Okafor scoring off the bench, the hierarchies might be reviewed.
“Very skilled inside the penalty area, he also has the ability to come forward to play. This evening he gave the impression of having adapted to the so-so pace of Milan’s first half.
“He would have had a big impact at the end, as Okafor did. He is much more skilled at managing that type of situation from the start of the match.”