San Siro has a new idol and it is a love story that is not born just for football reasons, with Yacine Zinedine Adli very much a fan favourite.
La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) recall how Adli had a good outing against Cagliari, despite an error leading to the opponents’ goal, and was so-so against Lazio.
His performance on Saturday in particular caused discussion because for the fans he was among the best players – as demonstrated by the standing ovation that accompanied his substitution – while for others he wasn’t quite as good for various reasons.
It must be said that Adli has shown a clean style of football and also of ideas that add something to Milan that was perhaps missing regardless of Ismael Bennacer’s absence due to injury.
Adli is precise in his executions and also good at certain defensive readings, which allowed him to thwart some Lazio moves. It just so happens that his elegance is accompanied by a certain slowness in his movements (which is why his starting position was moved back and his role changed) and by an insignificant physical impact, as per the paper.
From this point of view Adli must grow, but it may be that after the long wait he needs a few more games to get his legs moving in the right way.
The fact remains that Adli has become an idol of the Milan fans and not only (or not so much) because of what he showed in the matches against Cagliari and Lazio. Yacine is liked because he has always shown the right attitude even when it seemed that Pioli, rather than let him play, would have deployed the kitman.
Last year in May, Adli organised a lunch at his house, also inviting the families of his team-mates. He has always been an important part of the group even if then, when the referee blew the whistle for the start of the game, he stopped playing the role of the player and played like a fan would.
It’s more difficult and more beautiful to convince everyone in this new position than further forward, with a great goal or an enlightening assist, but Yacine knows that those are needed too.
I think Adli needs to bulk out a little to become the player we need. At the moment he looks like your sister could beat him up for his pocket money.
looks can be deceiving
Not necessarily. Remember, Pirlo was never a bulky man. Adli has more size than Pirlo.
Agree, it is achievable tho. See Leao, now he has more muscle compared to the first time he arrived.
You speak a lot about that player and you put to much pressure on him. Do you remember how many we waited for Tonali to become efficient (all the season 20-21) ? Just let him do what he knows doing and speak about other players like Pobega who’s very ridiculous and takes minutes from last year. This man is very technical and talented and it’s that kind of player we need the most.
As much as i like what he’s done, let’s not get ahead of ourselves here.
Adli had 2 decent games against cagliari and a weaker lazio.
He came as krunic replacement, not a very high bar.
He still has so many to prove, but i do hope he’ll get the chance.
You speak a lot about that player and you put to much pressure on him. Do you remember how many we waited for Tonali to become efficient (all the season 20-21) ? Just let him do what he knows doing and speak about other players like Pobega who’s very ridiculous and takes minutes from last year. This man is very technical and talented and it’s that kind of player we need the most.
Disagree. He’s got a very capable mind for the game and the speed of play. He’s asked to play out of the backfield with build up possession. Thus, the position usually requires slow developed play.
The frustrating part of all of this is that in his pre-season games, he knows how to play fast elegant football. Pioli doesn’t care and requires something different from him.
I rewatched the Lazio game for the time Adli was on. Yes Lazio is struggling but what was happening jn the first part was Lazios cutting off of Adli’s lane to receive the ball. Thus Pioli moving out towards Theo to receive the ball. He then got a talking to from Pioli. Afterwards his positioning with the ball was to fill in between Kjaer and Timori.
He made 4 or 5 fouls. 4 of them quickly from the whistle. He shadowed Guendouzi for a lot of the game. He forced 1 bad pass but with decent defensive coverage. He also made 1 bad challenge again with defensive coverage. He did make a lot of good challenges to break up play and win the ball back. 1 challenge one resulted in a great opportunity that was floundered
He’s not perfect. When he drifted into the backfield, Theo was in his position. Watching this happen highlighted Theo’s ineffectiveness that game. My opinion was when Adli drifted to receive the ball from the CBS the team was stronger than when he was in the backline.
It’s always fun to go back and rewatch with specific things to watch for.
Adli is very, very talented. Hopefully we get to see how high his ceiling in.
*Thus Adli moving out towards Theo to receive the ball
So glad we didn’t sell him as Pioli finally saw what the vast majority of others saw as well – an undeniable talent with creativity and vision that this team has lacked from the midfield position. Now let’s give the kid time. Yea he will make mistakes and will have some great games and some bad ones – that is normal and expected. Let’s continue to support him and hope he continues on his upward trajectory for the benefit of all Milan fans. Sky is the limit for him. Looks like that 10M investment was in fact well spent and NOT selling him, as some on this forum screamed for us to do for a paltry 8M, was wise. Patience friends patience. Just like with Theo, Leao, Tonali etc…every young player needs TIME. Hell even CDK is proving haters wrong each passing game. Patience Patience Patience🔴⚫️🔴⚫️🔴⚫️