One game is not enough to constitute definitive proof, but it seems as though Alex Jimenez did enough against Genoa to earn himself another chance.
As La Gazzetta dello Sport recall, on Sunday night Jimenez showed that he was capable of playing a leading role in the senior team, and in his first Serie A start. On a dark and grey night marred by protests at full-time, he managed to scoop the plaudits of many.
Those who see him every day in training assure that he is well above the level of the third tier, which is of course the level Milan Futuro play at. In his debut for the season in the Coppa Italia Serie C against Lecco he scored twice, then in November he scored two goals after runs like Theo Hernandez.
Those who know him have compared him to Theo since he arrived at Milanello. His technique, physical strength and a propensity for assists and goals mean that in many ways it is natural. Another important point: can seem a bit cocky at times, backing their own ability.
One remains the holder of the starting spot, the other an assistant who looks at him and tries to absorb like a sponge. Theo took him under his wing in the locker room, because he speaks Spanish, he has a past at Real Madrid and they play the same role.
They often talk and the Frenchman gives him precious advice, and now is the time to let him fly. Stefano Pioli used Jimenez a few times last season, also on the right side which shows his adaptability, given he is naturally right-footed. Fonseca though seems to prefer him on the left.
In the summer he chose to stay at Milan, also convinced by the words of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who in the press conference to present the season had guaranteed that he would be the deputy to Theo, something Fonseca initially did not agree to.
Milan bought him from Real Madrid in July for around €5m after a season on loan, but Los Blancos maintain a buy-back that can be exercised in 2025 or 2026 (for a higher figure). They are monitoring his development naturally, aware of having let Theo go.
There have also been enquires both from Italian and Spanish clubs about taking the 19-year-old on loan in January, and in the meantime Alex is warming up for another start against Verona.
seems like jimenez solves our right back problem. play him on the right and theo on the left.
theo will redisover his form and when he does this duo will be deadly.
Yep agreed,but our mighty fonseca will never change emerson royal
Is true, because he was the one that requested for him, so he will continue using him if not the management will ask questions of why did he allow Kalulu to go & makes them to buy Emerson if he is not going to use him.
Nawao for this your Fonseca I beg
Agree perfectly with andrea but our management is daft, cheap, blind and stupid and so just wait for some crazy action …….
Theo used to play like Jimenez when he was actually hungry to prove something at Milan.
Jimenez should play as RB. Even in his current form, Theo is better than Emerson on the RT.
I think that’s a tad daft if you’re sticking with a 4 man back line, there isn’t a defensive metric Theo is better than Emerson in. Theo in fact is so poor defensively he’s the only Milan defender to score below the 40th percentile in every defensive category. Theo is a winger not a defender. Theo belongs in a 442 system with a solid defensive fullback behind him. Emerson is a defender who shouldn’t be allowed past midfield. To your point Emerson is horrible on the ball. Maybe instead of just swapping Alex for Emerson, Fonseca should switch to a 352 and play the offensive minded fbs as wbs and move Emerson to be part of the CB rotation.
I don’t know why Emerson was signed as he clearly isn’t what Fonseca’s system wants at fb.
I totally agree with you!
Emerson can’t even cut it as a RB and you want to try him as a CB in a 3man lineup?
Look at his metrics, he’s not a terrible defender, I don’t want him as RB and I definitely don’t want him as a wingback. I also don’t want Theo as a fullback either. Emerson can play left cb and has in the past. I’m not saying he should be starting but we are in the middle of the season and he could be a useful reserve. Given the current players I like pop, gabbia and thiaw as the regular three. Tomori and Emerson as reserve. I agree that Emerson was a poor purchase/tactical fit but he’s a Milan player now so I’d rather the coach try to make him useful than pigeonhole him into a role he’s not up for.
352 or 343 could be a decent option but I don’t see Fonseca changing formation 6mo’s in. He can barely make it work thus far.
I think if someone like Sarri comes in then potentially we could move to a 3man back line.
“Look at his metrics, he’s not a terrible defender,”
Look at him play, he IS a terrible defender.