When Zachary Athekame joined AC Milan, there were questions about what role he would play in the squad. Those still remain, but he is fighting back.
There have been several questions this year about the recruitment from the summer, and Athekame has been subject to them. Not naturally a wing-back, his addition was scrutinised heavily, given he was not really what Milan needed.
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With Alexis Saelemaekers at wing-back, an experienced back-up would have probably ticked more boxes. After all, without Saelemaekers – who isn’t a natural wing-back in his own right – the Rossoneri look slim.
Fikayo Tomori can provide cover at right-back, and it seemed the Swiss also preferred this role. However, things may have turned.
Athekame’s audition
Against Bologna, as MilanNews writes, the young defender did not make the headlines. However, his performance was very solid. It was a complex match and he got through perfectly, showing that he can compete against European-level opposition.
He played without fear, was quick in every aspect and showed determination, all whilst taking the reins from a showstopper in Saelemaekers.
Whilst there was no immediate impact on the scoreline from him, he tried a few crosses into the box, whilst also defending well also. So, he has proven that he can be a ‘real alternative’ to Saelemaekers, given he is not a starter yet.
Indeed, a solid starting point, and a proof of his reliability. There should be no rush to find cover at wing-back now, he deserves a chance to show himself as cover.
Proved me wrong; keep up the good work!
I’d play him against PISA too – low pressure game. Give the Salad-tosser a longer break.
100%
SaladMan
“Whilst there was no immediate impact on the scoreline from him”
Well the first goal was created from his cross so i wouldnt say that he did not had an immediate impact on the scoreline.
He also did a nice cross to Fofana that was headed wide. Could easily have been the first goal of the game.
One day, I hope fans and journalists will learn to actually give players a chance at Milan. It is amazing the way he is being spoken about like an afterthought only to “prove us wrong” somehow. The same was done with De Winter until he had a decenr run of games but still the prove us wrong narraritive still lives. Until a player has had a deecent run of matches, he should never be judged.
yea… i think we get spoiled. Some players such as Tiji, Puli and dating back to players like Giroud, Van Bommel, etc, hit the ground running. We assume every player should be like that. While that is true for high level seasoned players, for young players, it shouldnt be. Tonali, Saladman, CDK etc are all 22/23 or under and given the time they grow
That’s not being spoiled. That’s being unrealistic, which Milan fans are in abundance.
Those players that you mentioned are less than 10, everyone else that came into the team have had to take time to acclimatize, Theo, Rafa and even the likes of Rebic (spent 5 months on the bench before getting his chance) all had to do that. But Milan fans have thee memory of goldfish.