AC Milan have had a disaster of a month where they dropped out of the Champions League and the top four race, and it seemed that dire run was going to continue on Saturday.
Now, the goal should be the Europa League at the very least and the first obstacle was Lecce, who have been struggling too, as of late. For this reason, the game was a perfect opportunity for Milan to get back to winning ways.
The game got off to a great start, as Santiago Gimenez scored in the first minute of the game, but unfortunately for Sergio Conceicao’s side, that goal was ruled offside and to add to frustrations, Lecce scored six minutes later to open the scoring.
The Rossoneri then had yet another goal disallowed because of another slim offside and eventually they fell two behind with Krstovic scoring his second in the 59th minute.
Things were looking bad for Conceicao and his men, who didn’t have the worst game, truth be told, and eventually they got a goal back in the 68th minute through an own goal.
Then in the 73rd minute, Christian Pulisic converted the penalty he won to level it, bringing an even bigger spark to Milan’s game and in the 81st minute, the comeback was complete as the American scored his second of the game.
A win that resembled the mentality of Conceicao’s Milan in the first few games, something that has been lacking in recent weeks, but those signs are finally back and the Portuguese can breathe for now, as his job is still safe after that performance.
Here are five things we learned:
1. Trio disappoint at the back
Milan continue to struggle at the back and Conceicao just can’t seem to find the answer.
Kyle Walker, Matteo Gabbia and Malick Thiaw were just not on the needed level, and with both of Lecce’s goals coming directly from big errors, it’s fair to say that the trio just failed to control the opponent’s attack.
Walker was decent enough but he lost a couple of 1v1s and was poor going forward. Then, Thiaw and Gabbia were not that bad either. However, a few bad clearances in situations resulted in dangerous chances for Lecce with the duo not up for the challenge on the night.
It’s also fair to say that the Italian was unlucky with the disallowed goal but ultimately he had to do better at the back.
2. Finally a positive performance from Theo
Theo Hernandez was very unlucky not to pick up two assists as both goals were disallowed, and truth be told, Gimenez disappointed a bit as he had to position himself better whilst Gabbia was just unlucky.
Despite this, Theo continued to involve himself in the attack and admittedly, it was a pretty decent outing for him given his struggles as of late.
At the back he could’ve been a bit better, but overall he did his part and it’s really an improvement given his drop. Unfortunately, though, that is settling for a product which is inferior to its former self.
3. Midfielders struggle a lot
It’s fair to say that despite all the attempts of the management to strengthen the team both in the summer and in January, they failed to add the needed quality in the midfield, which was probably the most important area to improve.
Youssouf Fofana and Yunus Musah have simply not been good enough, whilst Reijnders has had some great moments and some very underwhelming ones, like the game against Lecce. It is worth noting that he’s played so many minutes, so one could argue fatigue plays a part in this.
Regardless, against Lecce, the Rossoneri failed to control the game and Bondo didn’t impress on his debut either, although we have to say that he did grow into the game and showed some good qualities.
The Frenchman is still just 21 years of age and having just gotten his debut, we will cut him so slack.
4. Pulisic back with a bang
The American has struggled, similarly to his teammates in recent months, but against Lecce he came in clutch once again. He was involved in most of the dangerous situations, including the first disallowed goal.
Then, in the second half, he won the penalty and converted it to bring the game level and topped that off with some good movement in the box resulting in him grabbing his brace and scoring what was ultimately the winner.
It’s great to see Pulisic having fun on the pitch and he was back to being decisive against Lecce. Hopefully he can find the consistency now, as he did earlier this season.
5. Good subs by Conceicao
The Rossoneri weren’t horrible, but, unfortunately, they were down 2 goals at half time and Conceicao was quick to react bringing on Rafael Leao for the struggling Alex Jimenez whilst only bringing on Joao Felix and Tammy Abraham around the hour back in an attempt to energise his side.
Thankfully, that seemed to work just fine with Leao forcing the own goal to bring some hope to his team and then providing the winning assist to Pulisic. Truth be told, the Portuguese was not brilliant, but he was efficient enough with his crosses to help his side pick up two goals, which is more than enough.
Abraham also did well as he was involved in the first two goals and bringing energy to the pitch, whilst Felix also did well and brought quality to the midfield given Reijnders’s struggles.
1- Elliot is still in charge of AC Milan, not RedBird.
2- Furlani is the big boss apparently.
3- Who is going to be the Sporting Director matters less than the actual authority/power given to him. We apparently had a sporting director from July to December and no one ever heard of him.
4- Summer or winter “revolutions” generally amount to nothing and create poorly constructed teams.
5- Since we’re heading towards yet another summer revolution with the same management, we will probably continue to be a poorly constructed team.
Spot on dear Giga94.
As usual, spot on.
I like particularly the sporting director one. It doesn’t matter, what matter more is the power he will have.
Watching this Juventus – Atalanta game. Any reason why Motta is playing a winger at RB even though he has the “great” Pierre Kalulu on the bench?
Pierre back to what he was doing at Milan, warming the bench.
He’s just coming off injury and Weah has been playing there for several weeks and doing a decent job.
Juve lost 4-0 by the way with Mottas genius move
In the past, Theo. This week Gabbia. I take issue with the space they allow opponents at the edge of the box, to tee up shots. It’s poor individual defending, laziness, not harassing the shooters. see Parma match.
Truth be told, it was Conciecao tactics that exposed our defence to opponents. Fonseca deals with compactness which give less chance for opponents to explore. That is why we conceded less goals. Conciecao arrangement of players is too wide, that is why opponents easily attack us and make us to concede more goals.
So it was not Reijnders horrible pass that led to their counter? Or Bondo who did not care to track back? There’s no midfield, the ones we have are a bunch of ball carriers (Reijnders, Musah, RLC, Fofana, Bondo). Therefore we suffer in offense wihtout any creative playmakers and we suffer in defense without any DM.
1. The season was over after we lost to Feyenoord, the matches left are basically pre-season to decide if the coach stays or goes, what system the coach wants to play next season, and which of the current bunch fit into that vision.
2. Pulisic saves the day again. He has been the only undisputed upgrade signed in the last two seasons. I would make a case for Reijnders who, despite being inconsistent, has improved a lot this season and become more impactful.
3. Leao is not the problem. He may not be the leader/face of the team (see Pulisic) but I have seen how the team performs without him and it’s not pretty.
4. The media is slowly starting to call out management and their signings. In a poorly constructed squad, the players are put at a disadvantage but if you’re going after Leao and Theo the same way you went after Krunic, Bennacer and Calabria before, then the Redbird signings need to be held accountable as well. Gimenez, Abraham, Loftus-Cheek, Musah, Felix, Walker, Fofana, Royal haven’t shown enough to warrant a place on a Scudetto challenging team.
5. The point everyone is trying to hammer home is the lack of a clear plan from the top to the bottom. It all started with the Maldini and Massara firing and it’s been a circus since.
1 – Gimenez is slow. Likely because he has feet made of cement (see first touch)
2 – Reinjders is overtrained (in the scientific meaning of the term)
3 – Musah was an impact player today. I wonder if that is due to Bondo.
4. Bondo can win a ball and make an accurate pass.
5. Pulisic is an example of why teams wait to get players back near full fitness (see Reinjders, Fofana, Theo)
I am happy we won. We gave up a goal in the first 10 min (again). I am more convinced Sarge simply doesn’t know how to set up a team for the beginning of a game.
We did look better offensively but it was against a clearly inferior team and players. So YMMV on the Musah and Bondo comments.
What do you mean by “overtrained”?
When an athlete trains and completes past their limit it has physiological and psychological impact. This is common in sport of endurance such as cycling ,triathlon, marathon, etc. football is an endurance sport when plated twice per week at Serie A level.
Essentially over time recovery takes longer then the quality of the recovery dips. Physical performance starts to drop in training and competition. Sleep is impacted and mental acuity drops.
In Reinjders you can see he is not as fit and his decision making and intensity are not what they were. (Same for Fofana).
In severe cases it can impact emotionally. (Theo possibly)
Typically if an athlete reaches this state they have to shut down for 6-12 weeks and slowly build back.
You can search the term.
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/overtraining-syndrome
If you want to get nerdy look up periodization as well. It it not possible to be peak for more than a few weeks. Periodization is a way to manage that without over training.
Interesting. Thanks.
I think I got stuck in review due to a link to a Cleveland clinic article her is response without it
When an athlete trains and completes past their limit it has physiological and psychological impact. This is common in sport of endurance such as cycling ,triathlon, marathon, etc. football is an endurance sport when plated twice per week at Serie A level. Essentially over time recovery takes longer then the quality of the recovery dips. Physical performance starts to drop in training and competition. Sleep is impacted and mental acuity drops. In Reinjders you can see he is not as fit and his decision making and intensity are not what they were. (Same for Fofana). In severe cases it can impact emotionally. (Theo possibly) Typically if an athlete reaches this state they have to shut down for 6-12 weeks and slowly build back. You can search the term.
If you want to get nerdy look up periodization as well. It it not possible to be peak for more than a few weeks. Periodization is a way to manage that without over training.
I thought Bondo was decent.
The real turning point for me was Abraham coming on for Gimenez.
The inter play between the forwards was much better with Abraham on the field. I really hope he starts the next game.
The first goal was made possible by an incisive pass from Abraham out to space towards the corner flag. Where Leao was able to collect it and then had time to put in a great ball into the box. Felix somehow then managed to engineer an own goal rather than just putting it away himself….
Leao was good in the 2nd half. I still don’t mind the idea of him starting from the bench and coming on when the opposition is more tired.
Jimenez just needs to back to the bench/Futuro. He added nothing in the 1st half.
I liked the move of bringing on Sottil for Walker when we were pushing for the win.
Finally it would have been nice to see Chukwueze get some game time. Or even to have started instead of Jimenez playing on the right side.
1. Milan’s players run slowly on the opponent’s counter and I can’t understand that at all, it’s not normal. Milan’s players stand far away from the opposing player, which leaves room for an assist or a shot.
2. Milan’s environment is bad and that is the cause of all the problems. Reijnders is tired and de-centered and would need at least two weeks of rest. Risks injury.
3. Milan’s players go deep into the space, but they are static, because they hide behind the opposing players and that’s why we are exposed to counterattacks.
4. Milan must play schemes to break low blocks. Schemes like in basketball.
5. Milan must buy players who will run when we don’t have the ball – pressing and quick return to defense. Gattuso was not a DM, but a box to box player, but he played excellent defense and what’s wrong with Musah and Bondo doing that?
Scarloni should retire or go elsewhere as there no benefit with having here and Furlani is a must go so as long as he is the CEO this team will be a mid table outfit and others can join him and that includes Moncada and Ibrahimovic.
Finally, Cardinale you made a bad mistake removing Maldini and Massara and since you have won nothing and this team is becoming a somewhat joke. Your skills are most suited in the Wall Street stock markets and just do us a one last favour before you go and that is to place Milan in better hands.
I do not think a summer revolution is necessary. But we absolutely have to have a defensive midfielder. If we do not, it really doesn’t matter who we acquire.
With a strong def mid. A three man midfield with reijnders and any of Fofana, Musah, Bondo will work. I am also starting to question whether we should also acquire a locked down starter at CB. Pay up and get Calafiori.
For point #1, I dont even blame the defence tbh. They get absolutely no protection from our non existent midfield. It’s always 1v1 with them. Even when we have time to set up shop like on the second goal, simple things like covering the middle the midfielders are incapable of doing.
The more worrying thing and which I’m surprised didn’t make things we learned was that Sarge is ok playing Sottil as a right back. What in the actual efffff was that???
“The more worrying thing and which I’m surprised didn’t make things we learned was that Sarge is ok playing Sottil as a right back. What in the actual efffff was that???”
You didn’t realize Milan wanted to win? You didn’t notice Lecce had zero attacks and the threat was non-existing? You didn’t realize it was a brilliant move which paid off?
Well first of all I don’t know if you’re being sarcastic or not
Secondly Sottil is a left winger at best or cam.
Thirdly we were already in ascendancy prior to him coming on as we had tied up the game and our team was in balance at the time.
Fourthly, I can understand if Sottil comes on but plays further upfield but he doesn’t. He comes on and plays as an actual right back, which 1. Doesn’t make sense as you could have just kept the actual RB, And 2. Nullifies his strength which is in attack (he had no crosses or thru plays anyway ).
Also if the idea was to play a back three taking out Walker is a dumb move as he’s the only one who has played the most in a back 3 (he did for city)
No matter how you look at it, it was a bad move. On paper attacker for a defender sounds good but not when the attacker plays the same role as the defender.
Bro, don’t confuse him with all the numbers.
“No matter how you look at it, it was a bad move. ”
We won. It was a good move with zero backfires.
I see you’re not up to an actual discussion and you have your mind set to your pre drawn conclusions. We won but Sottil at right back wasn’t the reason
The squad is not built to play 4231
It worked when we had 2 excellent fighter-destroyers (Kessie & Bennacer), tonali with a more creative edge and krunic who almost always did a good job.
Fofana – box to box (more suited to play in as a defensive 8, not a necessarily a destroyer like Kessie.
Reijnders – ball player/runner/box-to-box
Musah – Runner (NFL type), box-to-box
Bondo – ball player/carrier/engine
RLC – not particularly good at anything but over-running with the ball.
343 would be more appropriate;
Pavlovic can play at LCB, adding more energy to the buildup and transition on the left channel with Theo & Leao high up.
Tomori at RCB and Thiaw in between as the extra CB to tidy up.
Fofana & reijnders in midfield with musah at RM to invert in build up and provide numerical advantage in the midfield (same for Theo on the left, if necessary).
Gimenez doesn’t have to be really involved in the build-up, just send in good crosses and through balls.
yup. Actually, if memory serves me well, a lot of out midfielders were purchased with the 4-3-3 in mind. Pioli wanted a more offensive team and wanted a 4-3-3. RLC, Musah, Tiji , all are 4-3-3 ready. When things got tough, he went back to 4-2-3-1 and Fonseca decided to stick with it. We got round pegs for square holes.
Good showing
There’s no midfield. The ones we have are a bunch of ball carriers (Reijnders, Musah, RLC, Fofana, Bondo).
Therefore we suffer in offense without any creative playmakers and passers and we suffer in defense without any DM.