Malick Thiaw’s first game of the season against Torino did not go to plan as the defender was the symbol of a back line that were far from solid.
La Gazzetta dello Sport have published a reflection piece on Thiaw and his ‘meteoric rise, before a slow decline’. Thiaw showed what he could do during the two legs of the Champions League clash against Spurs, helping neutralise an attack with Harry Kane and Heung-min Son in.
As the months passed by though, he declined from that level up until the most recent worrying display: his league debut for Paulo Fonseca’s new Milan. The game ended 2-2, but the Italian media agree he was the worst player on the field.
Having arrived in the summer of 2022 from Schalke 04 for less than €10m, Thiaw struggled for starts at first but got big opportunity in that European night against Kane and co., playing in a three-man defence and then – after those two legs – partnering Fikayo Tomori in a pairing.
He began the 2023-24 season as a starter and alternated good performances with so-so ones, then the turning point of the season came at San Siro against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, on November 28 of last year.
During that game the German suffered problem with his hamstring that kept him out for two and a half months, depriving the Rossoneri of their starting centre-back at a crucial moment of the season. Milan would go on to lose that game 3-1, and it would effectively knock them out of the competition.
Upon returning to the field in mid-February, something wasn’t right and he continued his decline in terms of performance. Thiaw made errors that suggested not just physical rust but also mental fogging, to the extent there were calls for him to be benched.
Things became uncertain for him after the signing of Strahinja Pavlovic and those rumours that Newcastle United were keen. Nonetheless, on Saturday against Torino Fonseca fielded the 23-year-old from the first minute.
What followed was – up to this point – the lowest point of his Milan career after an own-goal and a mix-up for Torino’s second. To redeem himself, a decisive leap will now be needed to return to the Champions League nights that he thrived in.
Such reporting doesn’t help. Not that sempremilan will destroy his career, but the proliferation of such negative articles don’t do players any good.
Besides, the guy is not totally a lost cause. On his best day I still think he’s by far our best defender. But it is also up to the coach to bring the best out of him.
There was no meteoric rise.
There was just the inherent bias in favour of any new signings.
Gabbia would need to score hat tricks every game to enjoy the same optimism.
Pioli randomly didn’t even trust Gabbia to finish or start back to back games last season even when he was head and shoulders our best defender.
I mean, Gabbia wasn’t quite riabl before his loan to Villareal. But he did really showed his best when we had our CB injuries and needed him back, almost cemented a starting spot the second half of the season
I am not sure what you’re basing that comment on given Gabbia barely played for Milan before he went on loan and barely played on his loan when Villarreal had 4 different managers.
Gabbia was an accident. Forced upon Milan because of an injury crisis. And low and behold a player who had played for one of the best primavera teams in the world was actually pretty decent after all (yes, Milan’s primavera’s team is one of the best in the world being Milan’s primavera team and Milan being one of the best teams in in Italy which is one of the best footballing nations in the world but somehow has forgotten how to play football because….stuff)
Yes he was. It’s just we never saw him play more than breadcrumb minutes.
Thiaw’s problems are of concentration, psychological .He has to rediscover that mental sharpness and then his confidence will return as well.
This is a particular moment for him, if he overcomes this then he will go on to flourish and regain his starting position but he is young and needs some time on the sidelines.
I think he should be loaned to one of serie a club who can guarentee he can play so he can make experience and improve his ability. Loan to other league will not improve his playing ability because his charecteristic, better sell him if that happen
Agreed. This is the best solution for Thiaw and Milan. We should get Matts Hummels or Kiwior who can play both LB and CB.
We need a backup for Theo for about 3 seasons now.
Giraffe on skates.
When some of us were happy about the news of Madrid loooking to buy Malik for 40mill some people thought it would have been wrong to sell 😂, few months down the line if we get 20mill for him now, we’d run with that money 😂😂😂…
The kid isn’t getting any better, is he…. Not very many signs of improvement so far from his maiden season. Hopefully Fonseca can get something better out of him…
I think coach should introduce these players to no fap and semen retention. It will solve their lapse in concentration. And improve their strength.