GdS: Kessie’s struggle is not negligible as numbers prove a clear decline

By Isak Möller -

Franck Kessie, amid the contract situation off the pitch, has struggled to prove himself this season and the AC Milan fans are getting frustrated. This evening, in fact, the midfielder will start on the bench. 

Stefano Pioli has decided to go with Tiemoue Bakayoko alongside Sandro Tonali for tonight’s game and that decision is partly technical. It should also be noted, though, that Kessie has played a lot lately and that also played a part in it.

According to Gazzetta Dello Sport (via MilanNews), however, the decline of Kessie is there to see for everyone. Last season, he had four goals and three assists in the first 18 games but this campaign, he has three goals and two assists.

Having said that, the decline is even more clear in the areas he should be good at: less involved in the game (69.1 balls played on average last season, 58.5 now), less decisive in recoveries (7.3 against 5.7) and finally, fewer duels won (5.2 against 4.5).

In other words, the decline is indeed clear and Kessie will have to pick himself up in order to keep his spot in the starting XI.

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Tags AC Milan Franck Kessie
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