On Sunday night, AC Milan piled on the pressure as the second half began, more so than they had done in the first period. However, that was not the difference maker.
Massimiliano Allegri touched on the fact that his side had gotten more aggressive after the break during his post-match press conference. Of course, this helped, but it was not the reason why Milan scored and eventually beat Lecce.
Instead, the Rossoneri won with two passes. Matteo Gabbia played it long to Alexis Saelemaekers and with the Belgian’s second touch, he found Niclas Fullkrug in the penalty area, who nodded the ball home with his first touch.
Football in its simplest, most direct form, and it seems likely that similar goals will be scored in the future.
Fullkrug is the key
Allegri has insisted on having a physical striker in his team, one that is properly able to poach goals, and Fullkrug is that man, at least for now. Whilst he may not be the flashiest option, he gets into the right positions and allows the Rossoneri a different way of playing.
For Gazzetta dello Sport, he is the ‘andidote to small teams’, simply as he offers something different, which can prove to be the difference against low blocks. However, his skill set can also help the Diavolo in other situations.
Unrelated to his profile, too, he also has the heart and desire to succeed. He has a point to prove and a World Cup to go to, which is extra motivation if nothing else.
For now, though, he will focus on being Allegri’s key, ready to help Milan against the small and big teams.
I think we will have to settle for De Winter as first backup for the three CBs and Bartesaghi as the second. Liverpool wont let Gomez go and there isnt a whole lof of better options out there.
Coppola would had been nice but I doubt Brighton will let him go for a resonable price. They buy cheap and sell expensive to the big dragons of PL.
2 more weeks to go in the Mercato.
We can only hope that some interesting profile that Tare and Allegri both approve of will show up.
He’s the type of striker that can break a stubborn defense. He was meant for a league of this nature where you have a team like Lecce defending with every man.
Also it’s not about flash, but delivery. If you remember Inzaghi wasn’t flashy. He just got the job done. Fullkrug delivered for CL level teams and his national team. He didn’t do well in one league sure, but he has a desire to show his quality.
Hope Fullkrug continues. And I think he certainly can do so.
💯
I was thinking about Pippo too a few days ago. As you said, he wasn’t flashy nor “skillful” but he did what #9s are supposed. We’ve missed such players way too long. Only Giroud has been able to do that in the recent years. And in a way Füllkrug is even more versatile than Pippo (but obviously not as talented in scoring).
Der Panzer can play with his back to goal. Vlahovic can’t. Are we sure we still want him?
Vlahovic isn’t coming to Milan but he absolutely can play with his back to the goal.
People said the same thing about Hojlund and then he started bullying defenders in serie A with his back to the goal including Milan’s.