AC Milan were hoping for an awakening at the Stadio Olimpico last night against Lazio, but a second half implosion meant the game nearly ended with yet another defeat.
Corriere della Sera (via MilanNews) reflect on Milan’s chaotic night against an ‘equally confused Lazio’, stating that it is not just the result that is worrying but rather the list of negative signs, from an absent style of play to defensive fragility and now a saga involving Rafael Leao and Theo Hernandez.
The paper speaks of a ‘split Milan’. Everything revolves around the strong decision made by Paulo Fonseca to leave on the bench the two players who are best in the squad on paper in Leao and Theo. Filippo Terracciano and Christian Pulisic started on the left side instead.
After a first half that ended with Milan in the lead thanks to a goal from Strahinja Pavlovic, the only bastion of a disorganised Rossoneri defense, at the beginning of the second half Milan melted like snow in the sun and conceded twice in a few minutes.
At that point Fonseca went back on his steps and sent on Theo, Leao plus Tammy Abraham and Yunus Musah. The Portuguese winger and the English striker immediately made their mark, with the latter setting up the former for the 2-2 goal.
A saga ignited immediately after with Leao and Theo remaining away from the cooling break meeting with the rest of the team, staying on the other side of the pitch. Both the left-back and Fonseca poured cold water on things after the game, but it feels like a ‘polemical gesture’.
The possible mutiny of the two top players is however only the tip of the iceberg of a first part of the season that has been truly a nightmare for Milan in every aspect. First of all, the results: two points in three games, the worst start for the Rossoneri team since the 2011-12 season.
Then there is the defensive phase that, instead of improving compared to last season, seems to have worsened. For the third consecutive game, Milan have conceded at least two goals, something that hadn’t happened in 40 years when Ilario Castagner was in charge.
In this sense, the break is heaven for Fonseca who, however, won’t have the chance to work with the best players in his squad and in particular with Leao and Theo with whom he must try to mend a possible rift. Liverpool and Inter await, after the home game against Venezia.
This is how redbird control finances destroys the club
Save the money, don’t invest properly bring cheaper coach
Basically they control club like kid who play video games.
Eventually all saved money they will lose on spot when they don’t finish 4th I serie a and this season looks like perfect example of what’s going to happen.
They will sell some better players next year just to avoid financial loss and long term create weaker and weaker club
If Milan can get guadiola next season his first request is to sale theo and Leo they are not messiah’s.no player is bigger than the team.i have a total confidence is Mr Fonseca.
Sacking this guy is always an option, so is hiring Sergio conceicao
Problem is no matter who they hire this is just badly build team. So the problem starts from above. We went from having the best mid in seria A to having mid filled with only box to box midfielders who can’t defend and neither attack.
We can defend, we’re just lacking a bit right now, it more the attack if we get a proper Loftus check replacement and good consistency from leao it would be better, but no matter what I still think sergio conceicao could do so much better and he’s shown it
This team isn’t balanced. For me Reijnders is the biggest issue from the midfield, he isn’t world class going forward and he is one player less when defending. He was the worse of the midfield trio yesterday. If you don’t defend you have to be world class up front.
Dense take.
Reijnders is the best midfielder we have.
He should be the only one driving forward with the ball out of a 433. Instead Fonseca plays him in a more defensive position in a double pivot for some reason, even though it’s clear he isn’t one.
RLC doesn’t defend – is he world class? is he better than Reijnders?
Well said. Couldn’t agree more.
Guys don’t worry, just read the articles how great and sustainable it is. While Juventus brings world class players, and multiple in 1 transfer window. Still spent less than Milan.
Juve brought Giuntoli. We don’t have a sporting director. That’s a big mark against the management because Ibra isn’t one.
That’s what you get when you hire mid table coach and buy cheap player. players with potential don’t bring you thropy immediately.. it takes time to norture them. There were proven coach like conte, a good coach like de zerbi and motta. And they choose fonseca.
They were too cool for cooling break.
Mr Fonseca will succeed just need to sort out who is with him and against.
No player is bigger than the team.
No player is bigger than the team. But there are a lot of players who are bigger than the coach. And if the coach can’t find a common language with several players at once, then there should be complaints about him too.
The ambition Redbird had for this club was sealed with the hiring of Fonseca. Mediocre coach that wasn’t in high demand and who we signed on a cheap one year deal – says it all. So we shouldn’t be surprised but our current situation. The preseason (which means nothing) was used as a justification that all would be well. Ya, sure😜
Poor player selection by management another huge issue. Many c;aimed we were “cooking” last summer with 12 new players, and that we added “depth” – yet half those players are now gone and save for a few of the remaining (Pulisic and Reindjers) the rest have had minimal impact. Even this market was POORLY PLANNED again. We added some talent yes – but Signing players just because we can get them on a cheap deal or at a discount is not how to build a winner. Too many players not suited for the system the coach wants to play. All box-to-box mids and no pure 6. No backup to Theo (again). Resigned Jovic even though we don’t play in a 2-striker system and he’s already out of the team and is holding up a EU-spot – that left us Scrambling last minute to find a backup #9 (tammy) because we completely screwed up the Jovic situation. Trying to sell Benny, our only 6 last minute of the transfer window without a replacement guaranteed. Punting on Motta and a younger striker to save $$$.
We replaced a club icon with a well liked figure in Zlatan – but he seems more concerned about social media clicks than the well being of the team. So much so that he took a vacation while the transfer window was open and skipped the Lazio game. Do you ever recall M&M or Galliani missing a practice let alone a game because they decided to go on vacation??? Neither Gerry nor Zlatan (who Gerry represents) were at a game that is unfortunately crucial for us considering the mess we are in. But nah, neither could be bothered to show up and Zlatan couldn’t wait to go on vacation during the international break instead of now?? We have been fooled by god himself.
All so this is Redbird’s doing – just so they can save some $$$ and be profitable. They don’t care about WINNING TITLES – that’s costs $$$$$. PROFIT only. Great on them – terrible for us fans.
Your rants are old. Same thing in and out.
I do agree about appointment of Fonseca being a mark against the management. Need a sporting director and a better coach.
We have plenty of good players, and some question marks like Emerson, Terra, and Thiaw for example …
Your rants are old. Same thing in and out.
I do agree about appointment of Fonseca being a mark against the management. Need a sporting director and a better coach.
We have plenty of good players, and some question marks like Emerson, Terra, and Thiaw for example …
Not sure if this posted twice. apologies …