A draw is certainly not the worst result in the world against a side with Champions League pedigree like Red Bull Salzburg, but AC Milan did learn a lesson from their trip to Austria.
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La Gazzetta dello Sport writes how a draw was the minimum target of the trip north and it was achieved. Chelsea’s current difficulties could change the theoretical hierarchy of the group a bit and Dinamo Zagreb may yet spring a surprise, but ultimately Milan have not lost any ground early on.
Milan knew how to react to the difficult moment when they fell behind as they steadied the ship and allowed their quality to show for the equalising goal. However, the performance was far from the deluxe version we are used to seeing and understanding the reasons is the first step to prevent it from happening again, especially in the Champions League.
Salzburg were very aggressive from the first minute and they were organised in their press too, while Milan – fresh from a very intense derby win over Inter on Saturday – did not have the energy to play through the press at ease.
In Italy, the Rossoneri are used to managing rhythms and asserting their own speed in the game which is often far faster than that of their opponents. In the Champions League this is not the case and therefore Milan must learn to deal with opponents who will match them for intensity.
One of the issues was that Olivier Giroud was isolated and Divock Origi (barring a splendid ball for Diaz) showed that he is not yet at 100% in condition or in cohesion with his team-mates.
Without a Plan B, Milan were reduced to seeing Rafael Leao marked out of the game, Charles De Ketelaere dropping deeper and only really Alexis Saelemaekers able to make meaningful influence (bar Leao’s assist to him).
Then there is another aspect which concerns and that the management of the key moments of the game. The draw in Sassuolo was put down to being a bad game because of the numerous rotations, but Milan must learn to manage the tempo and pick their moments to exert more energy.
Yesterday the first to suffer were Bennacer and Tonali, while Leao and Theo both seemed to suffer a bit of an athletic decline and the substitutions made meant the overall quality and threat of the attacking manoeuvres was lost.
The minimum was achieved as Milan avoided defeat, but every game at this level is a lesson and there is plenty for Pioli to chew over.
