Several players impressed in AC Milan’s 3-2 win against Inter last night but there were also a few question marks. While Rafael Leao showed his absolute class, Charles De Ketelaere struggled to impose himself.
Today’s edition of Gazzetta Dello Sport (via SempreMilan) took stock of the individual performances and handed out quite a lot of praise. However, there were also a few ‘poor’ displays and it’s something Stefano Pioli must consider.
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Rafael Leao was (not surprisingly) the MOTM with 8.5/10, bagging a brace and also assisting Olivier Giroud’s goal. Maignan was the second-best with 8 as he made several good stops towards the end of the game, including a fantastic save on Calhanoglu.
Sandro Tonali moved a lot in the midfield and was also very comfortable on the ball, earning him a 7.5. Ismael Bennacer also did well and got a 7, just like the goalscorer Giroud who once again showed up in the derby.
The likes of Pierre Kalulu, Theo Hernandez, Junior Messias, Brahim Diaz, Alexis Saelemaekers passed the test and got a 6. Charles De Ketelaere (mistake on Brozovic’s goal) and Divock Origi struggled to impose themselves and only got a 5.5.
The same can be said for Davide Calabria and Fikayo Tomori, who were to blame for the goals due to lapses of concentration.




Milan actually struggle after CDK leave the field.
What do you mean CDK struggle
Milan struggle when diaz come in
GdS need to learn to incorporate collective pressing in their rating system. If I recall correctly, our first goal happened because CDK pressed an inter defender and then their GK forcing the latter to pass to nearby defender who hastily gave it to Calhanoglu who then made mistake. It was CDK’s movement which cause inter defense to be out of shape so Milan can quickly score the equalizer.
The fact that Milan struggle to contain inter in the last 30 minutes reveal that Diaz wasn’t as effective as CDK.
Most stupid ratings, CDK really wasn’t that bad just couldn’t get an assist or goal 🤷
He could have been free on goal if inter player didn’t foul him extremely close to the penalty area.
Absolutely!
Yes! Agree
I totally agree. We lost control of the centre when CDK left. It was necessary to recompose with Saelemaekers.
I actually prefer if pundits, fans, other coaches underrated rather than overrated him slightly.
Hopefully it’ll mean he goes under the radar and can integrate before real improvement in the second season, like we saw with both Tonali and Leao.
Don’t need a guy overrated like Diaz in the first few games last year who became much less effective after a few weeks of praise.
Sure media attention isn’t everything but all the little factors add up. I have high hopes for CDK eventually but let’s give him a season to adapt to this level of football. He’s technically gifted but there’s a difference between Jupiler league and a top5 one like Serie A or Bundesliga.
He is actually being underrated, a lot claim he is unknown and unproven talent. However, the price tag is visible for all to see.
Calabria also missed Martinez after Dzeko had scored, and that is close to unforgivable. He must be able to read the game better. Those two passes are so unbelievably obvious.
Leao / Giroud commencent vraiment a fusioner ensemble…Un DUO MAGIC pour Milan !!!
Diaz contribution, or lack of was the clearest it’s been. I normally back home but for his first 10 minutes he was a ghost. I was hoping he would effect the game like last year but while he was ghosting about inter nearly got in the game. He got better towards the end but he definitely doesn’t deserve a pass or more than CDK.
And that first 10 minutes of Diaz was when we conceded.
Goal was conceded because of defensive errors and not because of Diaz. Diaz plays as attacking mid.
We lost control of the game after Diaz replace CDK. Diaz is not good enough in protecting the ball. When you lost control of the game, you risk conceding.
Playmaker is responsible for controlling the game.
ACM’s AMC should help to pressing. The wingers aren’t obligate to press. That’s how ACM’s Pioli tactic work.
And ACM’s AMC need to connect the passes to final third so he need make himself available, which Brahim failed to make himself available as passing choice at attacking phase.
Brahim’s good moments are his dribbles & he looks more agile now. I think Brahim’s playing-style make him better to be RW than AMC. Just wait at flank, exploit open spaces & dribbles to final third and dont too bother press when defending.
CDK was alright in attack. But he did make the mistake for the first Inter goal and gave a free-kick in a dangerous position. But I’d still rate him 6.
Calabria had a night to forget, constantly being caught out. He struggled the whole game. With Calabria getting caught out of position, Tomori/Kalulu had to cover for him at times. But when Kjaer was bought in, the defense became steady again. Origi was too lazy or slow and made some poor decisions. He needs to be more sharp and make more passes!
On my birthday Milan goes and beats Merda😭😭🔥🔥
I’ll never forget this particular Birthday.
Thank you to the boys, to Mister to M&M and all at the Rossonerri 🔴⚫️🔴⚫️
My 27th Birthday will always be remembered.
Forza Milan.
Sacchi actually praise CDK after the game.
I actually agree with these ratings. Don’t get me wrong CDK did fine and showed plenty of positives but he still has a way to go in terms of understanding tactical situations Pioli asks for. That said he has shown he is heads and shoulders above Diaz.
I think they deduct from highlights. CDK was pretty good. Why dont they also consider CDK’s work rate at Defending-Phase ? And 1 beautiful moment when he unpredicted dribble pass his marker fast & shoot but go wide.
And then Bennacer was better than Tonali in 90 minutes. I am Tonali’s fans, but i acknowledge that Bennacer was better. Strong at duels, never make mistake, distribute the ball sweetly to up field. He manage did all deeper pivot roles perfectly.
Regardless of how well some players did NOTHING would have happened without Tonali’s dominant performance in the midfield. It was a 10/10 and was the first time that the midfield felt like a ‘guarantee’ since Kessie left.