AC Milan were beaten by Feyenoord in the first leg of their Champions League play-off tie by a goal after three minutes, one Mike Maignan will not want to rewatch.
As La Gazzetta dello Sport report, shifting attention to the attacking stars was not enough, especially when conceding the first real shot on goal from the opponent. Igor Paixao aimed at the post covered by Maignan and even if the ball took a difficult bounce, it was unfathomable that it would go in.
It was a ‘huge mistake’ that brought the team back to reality, after the illusion that with the galactic attack they could overcome any and all problems. There was no ‘magic’ about Maignan last night, who instead committed an error that would go on to cost his team the game.
It continues a worrying theme, though: there was a lack of concentration in Como for Diao’s goal, for Zortea’s equaliser in Cagliari’s draw at San Siro and also for Weah’s in the defeat to Juventus. These are the examples in the recent period, and there are others this season.
The captain’s armband on the Frenchman’s arm has not made him stronger. It is not a question of pressure: Maignan is an experienced goalkeeper, he won in France with Lille and was champion of Italy with Milan. He is a starter for his national team at major tournaments, too.
However, the security he knew how to offer has been lost today. It was no coincidence that the last clean sheet in the league was celebrated against Empoli, because it was something that hadn’t happened in a month and a half.
The games without conceding a goal had thus risen to nine, two steps behind Yann Sommer’s Inter. Milan intervened in the winter mercato in every department except goalkeeper, because they trust Maignan, Conceiçao above all.
He knows how to raise his voice and guide his teammates in various situations but the most important task remains keeping the ball out of the net. The paper speaks of a future that ‘remains in doubt’, with a contract until 2026 and a renewal that has not yet come to fruition.
Dear Oliver,
Thank you for this brave piece. It has become taboo to dispute Mike’s status. I’ve noticed this for a couple of years now: He’s great with the ball in his feet, world class no doubt. But as a shot stopper he’s never shown anything close to that level. Yet almost no one else seems to notice.
And there’s something people seem to miss about the GK position. No amount of positives can cancel out all these blunders. Take Theo for instance. Yes, he has been horrible in defense this season. But he still contributes to attack. Mike has basically one job – stop shots on goal. Everything else is extra and rarely affects the match.
Worpd class goalkeeper? Take Buffon for instance. I don’t think he let this amount of stupid shots go in, in his whole career. Heck, the same could even be said about the snake dollaruma. Oliver khan, nueur,… do people really believe Mike is on the same level? I find this very strange.
And I haven’t even mentioned the fact that every time he gets on the ground, everyone gets worried he’s injured again.
If you really watch the game, Scudetto season Mike is a great shot stopper with cat-like agility, thats for sure.
After his long injury though, he seemed awkward when diving to the ball. Especially showed certain weakness against near post shot – he conceded a lot of those,even when it seemed easy to save.
That’s fiction, I watch every game. He had a better defense back then (Kessie), and he did blunder much less. Still nothing special to write home about. But allowing goals in your near post has little to do with physical condition and much more to do with positioning etc …
For me he has the same problem that many of these midfielders-converted-to-goalkeepers have, which is a lack of solid foundations
Ummm yea I’ve been on the receiving end for saying Mike shot stopping abilities aren’t great. Footwork is great and was good for the keeper footwork era which lasted maybe 5 years until coaches realized the primary job of a keeper is to stop shots. It’s why when I was asked who I’d sell instead of Tonali I would say sell Mike…we’d get the same if not more money at the time and we’d kept a good mid (yes I understand the whole betting issue would have sidelined us).
We could have gotten DeGea (also good with feet especially on kick puts) on the free and a better stopper. If I’m in a PK shootout and I had to rank De Gea, Donnaruma and Mike, easily it’s Donna, DeGea and Mike in that order. And in cup competitions you need a good stopper.
Added on to this is his perchance for picking up injuries. And it’s always a leg muscle or thigh issue.
I like that we have Mike don’t get me wrong but there are better options out there for cheaper and especially in Italy
Sorry but I read complete nonsense. De Gea good with his feet? Since when? That was the main reason Man Utd let him go for free and spent 50M on Onana, because De Gea can’t pass the ball with his foot properly. ???
For the rest I agree with you. I already wrote multiple times last year, buy DI Gregorio for 10-15M and sell maignan for 70-80 to PSG. And buy a striker. That ship has sailed but…
That should have been kick outs not puts. I guess drop kicks or punts might be better wording there. DeGea can find a player better than anyone I’ve seen in a long time from punts, he’s quite good as he hits the ball low. It’s more of a driven cross of u will.
And yes he’s good enough with his feet imo. I meant overall not just passing ability. His kick save is probably the best and well as his kicks as mentioned above. However in terms of dribbling out the back and use of footwork for that sort of thing, don’t let the few elite level footwork keepers make you think that’s the norm. You don’t need anything special and you can learn it. Donnaruma isn’t great as Mike with his feet for instance but he’s good enough..now couple that with his vastly superior shot stopping ability then yes I’d choose Donna and DeGea anyday over Mike.
Remember I mentioned the timing. Onana is now out of fashion such is the rapidity of which fads come into the game..that whole sweeper keeper and GKs needing world class footwork is already out the door and we’re back at getting shot stoppers (thankfully). Man Utd letting DeGea go is their dumb-worse that ours-management letting him go. There’s even a worse poison at that club than ours I also believe he was asking for extremely highwages for renewal and you are correct in that they were looking for better footwork keeper (hot tend at the time) so they let him go. And his form was not great in the tail end of his tenure. What he was asking vs what he’s getting now at Fiorentina are worlds apart.
Well you can write article about every Milan player.
This season results and club position compared to players salary is absurdity in below balance.
Last year he was also bad and missed quite a few games due to injury. If it was Leao all of you would write he needs to be sold asap.
PSG will probably offer for him soon. So get Donnarumma and 40-50M and ok.