Journalist Carlo Pellegatti has recalled how one of AC Milan’s most painful defeats in recent memory may have actually been a blessing in disguise.
It was the last game before Christmas when the Rossoneri suffered their heaviest defeat for more than 21 years as they were beaten 5-0 by Lombardy rivals Atalanta.
Alejandro Gomez scored the opener, but the thing that best embodied how farcical an afternoon it was is that fact that La Dea scored four times in the final 30 minutes as Mario Pasalic, Josip Ilicic (2) and Luis Muriel completed the rout.
Milan had not lost by five goals in any competition since being beaten 5-0 by Roma in May 1998, but it did seem to change the course that the club were heading on.
Pellegatti spoke to Sky Italia about the current positive run that Milan are on, and he recalled that the strategy of the club’s management seemed to change after a horrendous defeat back in December.
“The arrival of Ibra and Kjaer in January made the Rossoneri owners understand how important the mix between young and experienced players is,” he said (via MilanNews).
“Paradoxically, Milan must thank Gasperini, that 5-0 changed the philosophy of the Rossoneri club and accelerated Ibra’s return.”
