The importance of Tijjani Reijnders to AC Milan can be seen in the fact that he is an undroppable part of the starting line-up, and last night showed that he can add goals to his game.
As MilanNews write, since Reijnders’ arrival at Milan, he has played 61 out of the 63 games available in Serie A, the Champions League, the Europa League and the Coppa Italia. Both Stefano Pioli and now Paulo Fonseca consider him to be at the centre of their plans.
Against Club Brugge the Dutchman scored his first brace with Milan, his first goals in the Champions League. For the type of midfielder he is, gifted with great progression with the ball at his feet as well as fine and calculated timing in his insertions, last year he was accused of a bit of a lack of composure in front of goal.
As proof of this, we can underline that the two goals against Club Brugge already represent half of the tally achieved last season, which was goals. It should also be noted that last year in situations very similar to those of yesterday’s two goals, Reijnders wasted opportunities either due to a lack of conviction or precision.
Beyond the improvement in finishing – which could be a significant plus for Milan – Reijnders’ general performance is growing game after game. This is also due to how he is being used by Fonseca, probably inspired by his position with the Dutch national team.
Yesterday, for example, the 26-year-old played as a mezzala (a box-to-box player) with Youssouf Fofana deeper and Ruben Loftus-Cheek on the other side. This would be his natural role, and it is perhaps for the first time since he has been with the Rossoneri that he has been used there.
This role allows him to play between the opposition lines, finding spaces with less stringent and binding defensive duties, which also tire him out less than when he is deployed in a two-man midfield with Fofana.
I’ve always maintained Reijnders is the most creative mid we have. No wonder that when Loftus-Cheek came off The Dutchman scored two. Because the Englishman has been getting in his way and occupying his space for 60mns.
This is also a problem when Fonseca fields two strikers, one behind the other one and Morata or whoever dropping deeper to create passing lanes and occupying TJ’s space.
Just how I see it.
If we had a proper balanced 433 we’d see more of this from our mezzalas. Lord ruben included.
You think Fofana can play as a 6 in a 4-3-3 ?
nope. he’s a b2b at best. we need to use his strengths now that he is here. and staying back isnt it.
“I’ve always maintained Reijnders is the most creative mid we have.”
Currently he is the ONLY midfielder we have who has something close to creativity.
This. Our most creative player is playing for Viola these days.
No I agree – once Cheeky went off (who I don’t hate btw like a lot of fans on here) Reijnders’s positioning could kick into gear and find himself in the right place at the right time for the two goals. But what do I know? “Reijnders is nothing special….”
wrong, pulisic moved from right to mid as trequa with chuku on the right, reij beside fofa was then the winning formula , even rafa could manage to find someone with a cross i believe
That’s because Pulisic has synergy with players around him while Loftus simply occupies space and contributes zero. Puli can play anywhere and contribute.
Here we go again with the hype: Okafor being crucial, Reijnders being complete,… gimme a break
Dude scored against Brugge, BRUGGE when they were down to 10 men and now we already back with those articles…
Yes, best midfielder on the planet because he scored 2 goals against a bad team with 10 men. Against Fiorentina and Bayer he was almost invisible.
And Liverpool, better not to mention how good he was against top players.
I like Reijnders but he scored against a 10 man Brugge team that was wore out. I would love to see him repeat but not going to get my hopes up.
Put him in a right position and he will deliver… Oh and a 10 man Serie B level team.
“Reijnders doesn’t score enough”
-Brace
“Oh but its against a sh*t team”
…
Correction: sh!t team AND a man down 🤣🤣🤣
Look, I do want him to score, and I’d be happy to see him scoring and assisting more often but I’m tired of these articles popping up each time one of our player gets ONE thing right against half decent teams.