During Italy’s draw against Belgium on Thursday night there were no AC Milan players in the side, continuing a trend both at international level but also projecting a contentious issue regarding the Rossoneri’s squad.
Alessandro Vocalelli has written a piece for La Gazzetta dello Sport, which highlights how – among the 16 players that took to the field during the 2-2 draw two days ago – there were representatives of many teams. There were Inter players, Juventus players, Napoli, Roma, Atalanta and Torino represented.
There were also four who play abroad and act as ‘ambassadors’ for the Azzurri in France and England. However, of the 16 players (11 starters and the five substitutes) there was something striking: not even one was from Milan, a result of the squad construction.
Milan have had a complicated start to the season with just three wins from nine games across all competitions, with Paulo Fonseca under pressure as the head coach but also the star names like Theo Hernandez and Rafael Leao being demanded more of.
There is no doubt that the spirit of a team that knows how to react in the best way when it feels under pressure, almost at the last resort – as happened in the derby – and then loses itself when the boat seems to have regained its course, has had an influence.
The journalist adds that among the problems at present is the ‘lack of a core of Italian players who know how to interpret the moment, who are also driven by a sense of belonging, who know how to “explain” to others what it means to wear such a prestigious shirt, who know how to transfer to the new arrivals that responsibility – perhaps transforming it into pressure – that is right to have in certain moments’.
Milan’s most successful sides have been built around cores like Baresi, Costacurta, Maldini, Tassotti, Nesta, Ambrosini, Gattuso, Inzaghi and others. Juventus achieved dominance with Chiellini, Barzagli, Bonucci and Marchisio, while Inter now have Acerbi, Darmian, Bastoni, Di Marco, Frattesi and Barella.
In short, not having seen even one Milan player among the 16 Azzurri on Thursday is certainly not the only reason to decipher the ups and downs of the clubs, but perhaps it is a detail – not insignificant – to take into account.
Matteo Gabbia was in the squad and he represents a potential hope, but Gianluigi Donnarumma and Sandro Tonali – who Milan had and let go – are leaders for Luciano Spalletti’s side, while the centre-back had to watch on.
I agree 100%. To return back to the top, Milan must have core italian players in first team – 3 or 4 players, judt likevin the 80s, 90s, 2000s.
Yes, but people in the comments usually write that there are no good Italian players and Inter is dominating Serie A with half the team being Italian.
Considering that we will never go back to only 3 foreigners in the teams at the time pf pre Bosman rulings then to be fair if it was up to me me then I would like all leagues around to have rulesets that all XI’s at least had in between 66/75% being native players.
It would reinforce coherency and strengthen the international teams while furthering the development of local talents and the identity of the leagues.
This isn’t an Italian issue. It’s a competence issue . We have incompetent ppl at the top and managing the team.
As a fan, I trust AC Milan’s scouting and recruitment. Our team is the best in Serie A, regardless of nationality. The strategy to bring future Milan stars around age 23 (from Futuro team) is clear, and I’m excited for what’s ahead!
“As a fan, I trust AC Milan’s scouting and recruitment. Our team is the best in Serie A, regardless of nationality. ”
You may be fan but most of all, you are absolutely delusional. Best team? Not even in the city. The teams is poorly constructed, no leaders, grown men acting more childish than the kids in kindergarten and p1ss on their team mates. And ALL the managers are 100% incompetant at their jobs. Best in Serie A? I wish…
This is purely down to our cheap idiotic management, we could have signed Italians for several positions, we chose Emerson instead of Bellanova, chose Tammy instead of keeping Colombo, chose Chuku instead of getting Berardi, our whole foreign midfield instead of Ricci, Tonali, Bove, Fabbian, Rovella, Miretti etc etc
We gave Maldini away for free FFS and he is now in the national team !!!???
Says it all really
Tottenham are laughing all the way to the bank because we spent 15m on possibly the worst right back on earth, unbelievable and embarrassing, thankyou Moncada
Spot on.
“As a fan, I trust AC Milan’s scouting and recruitment. Our team is the best in Serie A, regardless of nationality. ”
You may be fan but most of all, you are absolutely delusional. Best team? Not even in the city. The teams is poorly constructed, no leaders, grown men acting more childish than the kids in kindergarten and p1ss on their team mates. And ALL the managers are 100% incompetant at their jobs. Best in Serie A? I wish…