gds milan leaders

GdS: ‘The sins of the devil’ – Milan let down by leaders and new additions

AC Milan have found themselves in an early-season crisis of sorts having lost three of their last four games, and not all of the responsibility falls on the shoulders of Stefano Pioli.

As this morning’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) reports, there are several supposed leaders in the Milan squad that have let the team down in recent weeks, in addition to a couple of new signings.

Mike Maignan for example is certainly not the face of the crisis but he is not leaving fans stunned with world-class saves like before. Previously he added points to the standings but now he neither gives nor takes away.

To be honest, he is not free from blame for Raspadori’s equaliser in Naples or in the Champions League when PSG doubled their lead after he coughed up a big rebound. Compared to his other seasons with the Rossoneri, in this one he added a red card for a foul on Ekuban in the win over Genoa.

With the five substitutions exhausted, it was Giroud who put on the gloves and a decisive save was made by the centre-forward, a paradox that says a lot. In mid-September Maignan instead left the spotlight to Marco Sportiello after suffering another muscle issue.

Theo Hernandez is playing with the handbrake on. Before he was bombing full-back who could also be seen in more central areas of the pitch, yet at the start of this season he has been seen little, both as a winger and in the middle.

Pioli confirmed in recent days: “We are developing a slightly different attacking phase on the left, so we expect Theo to be a little less exuberant on the wing and a little more supportive. But it is also true that he knows he is very strong and that is why he must raise his level.”

If Rafa finished the job, it was Theo who started the movements in seasons past. Today the Frenchman also seems more on edge, given he already has five yellows in eight league appearances, while last year he had seven in total.

Then there is Rafael Leao, whose smile has gone and has been replaced by an angry expression, as seen after the substitution against Napoli. Above all, his darting runs down the left no longer end in a goal or an assist: if Rafa manages to break free from his marker and accelerate, it ends with a lopsided cross or a blocked attempt.

He has not scored since the win over Verona and his last assist was on September 30, meaning darkness has fallen on Milan. Or vice versa, Leao still needs the support of the group to emerge. In the league he failed in the big challenge against Juventus and at Maradona he is remembered more than anything for his reaction after coming off.

In the Champions League he lost the duel against Mbappé and before that he stumbled in his back-heel attempt against Newcastle. To get up again he must find what he has lost: precision, and a smile.

Moving to new signings, Samu Chukwueze has lost the dribbling that made him famous in LaLiga. With the Rossoneri, so far, he is remembered for missed chances in the area against Dortmund rather than beating his man and creating overloads.

Last season at Villarreal he racked up 13 goals and 11 assists across all competitions, but he is stuck on zero in both categories with the Rossoneri, though he did suffer a muscle injury with Nigeria and he has started only three times.

Noah Okafor is another player who was signed to show his dribbling, speed and eye for goal. This season he scored against Cagliari and sealed the game against Lazio after a lovely assist from Leao, but it is also true that the Swiss international struggles to emerge if spaces are limited.

At Milan, even before showing what he can, it must be understood where he can do it: as a left winger, a deputy to Leao, or as a central striker, replacing Giroud. In the latter case he would probably get less space.

Tags AC Milan

4 Comments

  1. He changed the system to get “better midfield” ,but he get worse midfield instead,worse defence and destroyed our best players leao and theo, as i see it he will not admit his mistake any time soon

  2. I guess I don’t understand how all 11 players can decide and execute a terrible performance unless there is a psychological disbalance or discord in the dressing room or not motivating factors… or how the same 11 players can put in a stellar performance, like the 1st 45 against Napoli. All comes from the top, right? Yea they all looked terrible against Udine, but if anything I thought it pointed to a bigger problem…

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