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.