Fikayo Tomori’s struggles to find consistent form continue, and it could present an opportunity for Strahinja Pavlovic in the coming games as per a report.
As Calciomercato.com write, Tomori is a ‘great mystery’ for Milan given that he continues to fluctuate between high-level performances akin to those in the Scudetto season with error-strewn displays like the one against Fiorentina before the international break.
Nobody seems to be able to answer the question regarding why Tomori has had a decline, though it is possible that it is due to the lack of stability in the defensive department around him.
However, there are no excuses for what happened in Florence, with the penalty debacle and the mistake he made leading to the winner.
Beyond that, for every action there is a reaction and there could be a quick consequence for the Englishman as he will most likely be absent from the starting line-up for the match against Udinese on Saturday night.
It is not the only game he has made an error in but the feeling is that the combination of that and the disobeying of the penalty hierarchy was the straw that broke the camel’s back, which could in turn provide a chance to Pavlovic.
The Serbian arrived for €18m plus €2m in bonuses from Red Bull Salzburg and after getting starters earlier in the season he was left out of the rotations. The 23-year-old is likely to get more opportunities than just Saturday, given the run of seven games in 21 days that is approaching.
Matteo Gabbia remains the most reliable central defender and has been throughout 2024, but Tomori is no longer indispensable and Pavlovic will have to – starting from the match against Udinese – show how useful his aggressive style of play can be while cutting out previous errors.
If he has managed to combine this with greater concentration and cleanliness in interventions, then for Tomori the ‘involution’ he has experienced could lead to a long spell on the bench.
Milan should get either Dodô from fiorentina, matty cash, or festy ebosele from udinese if emerson royal doesnt work out long term.
I really hope Pavlovic can take his chance now and succeed. We need a left-footed center back. If he can cut out some of his mistakes, Pavlovic has all the raw talent to become a top player. And a perfect complement to Gabbia ✨
This is like choosing between pest and colera. Both players lack positional awareness and tactical intelligence (Simon Kjær).
Pavlovic needs to be developed, as the raw talent is clearly there. He seems to mostly need a better reading of the match, and that can only come with experience.