AC Milan got the job done against Lecce on Sunday as they ran out 2-0 winner, but a rather worrying trend continued whereby there were multiple individual errors on display.
You can read our full tactical analysis on the game here, but one of the points that was highlighted was the amount of individual play which was relied upon in order to create the spark that finally broke through a deep defence.
The problem with relying on the decision making and execution of single players is that it cannot be controlled by the head coach, and it is much more individualistic than, for example, putting together a passing move to break through the lines of an opposing defence.
Looking specifically at Sunday’s match, the easiest target of all is Ante Rebic. When the ball was crossed into the box by Theo Hernandez, the Croatian’s poor first touch completely let him down and allowed defenders to recover.
If he were perhaps in a better run of form and therefore feeling more confident he probably traps that ball without the same apprehension or potentially even takes on a first time shot.
Then we come to Junior Messias, who started on the right wing. He saw Brahim Diaz running in behind and put too much power on his pass. The distance was just 6-10 yards and he did not even come close to getting it right.
Brahim Diaz was given the nod in the playmaker role after a few starts wide on the right and he did not have his best game. He could have put Rebic through, but once again his pass was aimed elsewhere.
Back to Messias. When Milan managed to split the Lecce defence to put them in some difficulty, the Brazilian wasted the opening with a mis-directed pass.
One of the ways of breaking through a team that are parking the bus is quick one-touch football. Milan got from the wing to the central area, yet Rebic misplaced his pass.
Sandro Tonali was not immune to this either. The midfielder wasted a perfect counter-attacking chance that Milan conjured up and we are not really sure who he was aiming for with his pass but it did not get close to a recipient.
Finally, we come to two chances in the space of 15 seconds. Theo had a perfect chance to find Messias and then Brahim Diaz ignored an open Leao to shoot at the Lecce wall.
Of course it goes without saying that all of these players are professional footballers and pointing out such mistakes from the perspective as a journalist or fan is admittedly rich.
However, it is important to highlight that these mistakes ruin the pressure that Milan are able to build and that ‘tactics’ cannot make them disappear: it has to be improved upon by individuals themselves.
Milan did get a victory on Sunday, but the previous games against Bologna and Empoli before that did not yield three points which was again because of poor finishing and execution in the final third.
When people say Milan’s defensive style of football is not ‘sustainable’ and Pioli cannot coach an attacking style, these clips show that the Rossoneri do commit players forward but often surrender possession in a way that leaves them open for a counter.
Lecce do not have the attacking threat to turn these mistakes into goals, but rest assured Napoli and teams like Roma do, which is why pragmatism often comes into the equation.
