Massimiliano Allegri was hoping for another big performance from Pervis Estupinan on Sunday night, but instead he struggled against Lazio.
As Tuttosport (via MilanPress) write this morning, seven days can change everything. They did, in a certain sense, with Milan and Pervis Estupinan, who experienced the high of being the derby hero before sinking at the Olimpico against Lazio.
Hero to (near) zero
No matter what happens in his Milan story from here, nothing can take away from Estupinan’s night against Inter. Having been the subject of ridicule from large sections of the fanbase who almost dreaded him starting, he put in an excellent shift and scored the winning goal.
This convinced Allegri to do something that he doesn’t normally do: he stuck with the ‘reserve’ option in a particular position despite the fact that the ‘starter’ – in this case Davide Bartesaghi – was ready and waiting to go back into the XI.
The result wasn’t ideal, as the Ecuadorian went from a derby fairytale to a nightmare against Gustav Isaksen and his team-mates. It was a night that could have reopened the battle to be the starting LWB, but instead probably seals that his first season as Theo Hernandez’s successor will be a failure.
The former Brighton man has never conveyed or displayed those sensations and performances on the pitch consistently. He lacks Theo’s attacking ability and struggles greatly when defending, even in open play (as Theo did in his final year or two), and Bartesaghi is ready to slot back in again.
He surrendered nothing.
The goal was a glitch – he didn’t even play well in that game, I don’t know what all this MOTM nonsense was about.
Perv, you did one great thing and we are grateful; now please close the door behind you on your way out.