Boban suggests Milan are missing Tonali in criticism of performance vs. Liverpool

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Zvonimir Boban was deeply critical of the AC Milan team and the management after the 3-1 defeat against Liverpool, suggesting that they are missing the heart of a player like Sandro Tonali.

It was not a good night for Milan at San Siro, but things were going brilliantly when Christian Pulisic’s excellent shot put them a goal up inside three minutes. Konate and Van Dijk headed in set pieces to give Liverpool a half-time lead, then Szoboszlai made sure of the points in the second half as the game ended 3-1.

The team were jeered off the field as the fans saw yet another performance that they were not happy with and another disappointing result. The pressure has really ramped up on the head coach Paulo Fonseca, especially with the derby against Inter to come on Sunday.

Boban was covering the game as part of a panel on Sky and he seemed to clash with Zlatan Ibrahimovic as the pair discussed his comments regarding not knowing what the role of the Swede is.

At full-time, the former midfielder was critical in his assessment of Milan, with his comments relayed by Radio Rossonera.

“Big problems for Milan. There is no construction of play, the two central defenders are very slow and awkward, they don’t have the courage and personality to play the ball forward,” he said.

“In the middle of the field there is no one who takes responsibility to do more concrete , important things, to get the ball to the wingers or the attackers. Then for an hour they play on the right?

“I don’t understand. I’ve never seen a ball on the left for Theo or Leao. It’s not logical to play for an hour only on the right, so it was probably a choice.

“The most worrying thing was really the lack of reaction at 3-1. Only Abraham did something good, but evidently a leader is also missing. And there is a lot to build.

“Milan sold Tonali, their best Italian player and very attached to the shirt. Seeing him away from Milan is a shame, these things then have to be paid for.

“To come to Milan he refused Juventus who had offered 42 million to Brescia: these are the values ​​that must never be lost.”

Tags AC Milan Milan Liverpool Zvonimir Boban

16 Comments

  1. Tonali struggled in his first season in Milan. He only got better with time. Milan lacked leadership that was all. We couldn’t do much,some journalist call Theo and Leao leaders,but I doubt they ‘re .They have not achieved much to be leaders.

  2. I agree completely with Boban. There was no one with Tonali’s heart and grit. The team is too foreign. The core should have Italian. We are like Real Madrid that buys the best foreign players and talents. Milan buy average foreign players, and a coach.

  3. I’ll never forget the time Tonali stood over Theo and protected him from the inter players. He was our field general even if he wasn’t “the next pirlo”.

    1. I will never forget Tonalis goal against Lazio in the season we won scudetto. It was a most win game. What a joy and relief.
      Boban is absolutely right.

  4. Enter the RedTurd fanboys claiming it was right to sell him because we now have RLC who can’t control a call and Fofana who Can trap a ball further than I can kick it..

  5. All I see is incompetence at Milan. Starting from the top with Cardinale. You can’t run a successful business without experience people.

    I say this often and I will say it again until Milan owners understand it, Inter best signing was Marotta.

    Until Milan get an EXPERIENCED SPORTING DIRECTOR and EXPERIENCED CEO nothing will change. Because signing players is not the same as building a winning team.

    Therefore, Milan needs to first get rid of Ibra, Furlani and Moncada. Replaced them with Atalanta Sporting Director Tony D’Amico and bring back Gazidis and make him CEO.

    Then those 2 will get the right coach and the right players to lead the club forward.

    1. Everything you typed had a high element of truth in it. But you make a very grave assumption.
      First of all, you assume Cardinale wants to win, or better phrased wants to spend adequately on the sporting side of Milan. Competent directors require great funds to get the right types of sporting accomplishments.

      Be it players, managers, scouts or medical professionals. Referring to either transfer fees, wages, agents fees or transfer budgets. Given Milan’s lowballing and waiting game on the transfer market, what makes you think a competent sporting management would work with that.

      That’s why the previous management I would not. Mention their name wanted more leeway on finances infused into the sporting side. Until Milan proves willing to spend well on the sporting side, not only players but also competent people to bring said players, this brouhaha will continue.

      So in a way you are right. Cardinale is the main problem and the solution is very clear. It does not need a seer or a doctor to assess, but not in the way you might think it. BUT IS HE WILLING TO PAY WHAT IS NECESSARY TO GET MILAN BALLING??

  6. Selling Tonali was a smart decision for Milan. In against Liverpool, the players lacked a winning mentality, which is why they couldn’t capitalize on their chances. Milan had the ability to win that game.

  7. The problem with selling Tonali is we gave up quality and then started the practice of buying mediocrity. We are never going to win with players who are rejects Like RLC and the rest of these 20 million bang average players. Last night was all you need to see. To win you need talent not deals. #Cardinals out.

  8. The biggest mistake was not selling Tonali but not buying a top defensive mildfielder this summer. Joao Palhinha, Amadou Onana, Manuel Ugarte and Joao Neves all switched teams. Why did not you buy one of them?

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