AC Milan were hoping for a night that calmed the toxic air and put them back on the Champions League course, but the opposite happened.
La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) write that ‘the Devils are afraid of hell’. More specifically, Milan are now in grave danger finding themselves outside the Champions League zone after 38 games, something that seemed unthinkable weeks ago.
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Having been defeated by Atalanta, Roma are now level on points. They are still masters of their own destiny: if they beat Genoa and Cagliari, they are assured of a top four spot, thanks to their head-to-head advantage. But can this Milan still win?
They have lost four of their last six games, scoring just three goals. After the derby victory, they have maintained a relegation-worthy pace (seven points in eight games). Only Pisa, Verona, and Lecce have done worse.
Don’t be fooled by yesterday’s hysterical late comeback, either. Down by three goals in the 43rd minute of the second half, the Rossoneri rallied with goals from Strahinja Pavlovic and Matteo Nkunku. Right at the end Matteo Gabbia even had a chance to equalise. It was too little too late though.
For the rest of te game, Milan confirmed what they have been for weeks: a team without style and identity, athletically exhausted, tactically adrift without the guidance of Luka Modric and without the light of the stars.
Rafael Leao was once again disastrous, bombarded by boos and replaced. Furthermore, having been booked, he will be suspended, like Alexis Saelemaekers and Pervis Estupinan, who will miss the match against Genoa. This is yet another blow for Allegri.
The worst possible start
Adrien Rabiot’s long-range shot hit the post early on, giving a false impression that Milan were up for it. Then the match took on its true form: a stronger team (Atalanta) controlling and dominating a weaker one (Milan).
La Dea had a clear idea of how to hurt Milan: by being direct and with dribbling, using the centre-forwards to hold the ball up. Palladino had eradicated the ferocity of high pressing, but the beautiful ability to quickly move vertically remained.
In contrast, Milan – as we have known for some time – had no logic. Samuele Ricci was constantly blocked by Raspadori, while the Rossoneri’s dribbling was slow and without any outlets. Gabbia repeatedly went long with throw-ins that were a sort of surrender to the build-up phase.
In this creative desert, Rafael Leao should be an oasis, but instead he endures yet another poor night and another barrage of boos for misplacing passes and missing chances. The biggest one saw him denied by Carnesecchi one-on-one, and his best moments came wide on the left.
Milan switched off twice and allowed Atalanta to take a two-goal lead. In the 7th minute, De Ketelaere found Raspadori in the centre of the area, with the ricochet finding Ederson who slotted in. In the 29th minute, CDK found Krstovic who laid it off for Zappacosta, who made no mistake in behind.
Late signs of life
Palladino, who is not lacking in self-confidence, starts the second half with a Luis Enrique-style line-out. You expect a Milan full of energy, but instead, after six minutes, Raspadori thundered a beautiful shot in off the post that was left exposed by Maignan.
Here, San Siro finally loses patience. The Curva Sud empties and moves the protest outside the stadium. Leao kicks a ball into the rings of Saturn and is replaced amid deafening whistles.
Allegri, who had started the second half with Nkunku and the 3-4-2-1, attempts a desperate comeback with Füllkrug and the 4-3-3. Nkunku comes on with the spirit his team-mates lacked and is the protagonist of what was nearly a remarkable turnaround.
He forced two miracle saves from the excellent Carnesecchi, and after Pavlovic’s goal (88th minute), he wins and scores the penalty to make it a one-goal game (90+4). In the fifth minute of time added, Gabbia had a header for an incredible 3-3, but it landed wide.
The away side could celebrate their feat and hope for a European spot, with the help of Inter and the Coppa Italia. For the Diavolo, one mission only: to transform the popular anger into positive energy and win their last two games. Otherwise, it will be hell.
More poor decisions from allegri, at least know he can’t pick his favorite leao up top anymore
Allegri Out
Re
“tactically adrift without the guidance of Luka Modric and without the light of the stars”
This bad run long pre dates Modric injury. He’s only missed the last two games.
Our recent run is 2W 1D 5L since the derby.
Our attack has no direction.
Yes we are worse without him. But we were already on a bad run.
“Our attack has no direction.”
Who needs an attack when you can defend the whole 90 minutes and rely on luck to get that one winning goal? That’s Allegri’s “tactics” in a nutshell.
Not even the 352 works anymore. LOL!!! Gotta love it. A club built without a plan is operating in the image of the person who created it… FurlaniBall. No system at work. Just random acts. Like last night.