Ismael Bennacer could have ended up in Saudi Arabia in the summer, but now he is there with AC Milan and hoping to prove to a new coach what he can do.
As La Gazzetta dello Sport recall, Bennacer was heavily linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League before the start of the season. He played the first league game against Torino with his fate in the air, then a serious calf injury with Algeria during the first international break changed everything.
The most important news is this: Bennacer is much better now and could be a starter in Juventus-Milan tonight in the Supercoppa Italiana, for the first time in four and a half months. It has been a long recovery path after undergoing surgery and he is ready to show his worth.
The Algerian has only had 45-60 minutes of football but he seems much fitter than before. In the past few months he’s worked in Qatar, at the Aspire Academy, followed remotely and sometimes in person by the Milan staff.
The next step is to understand what role he can have in the dressing room and on the field under Sergio Conceicao. In the locker room, it’s simple: Bennacer is one of Milan’s veterans, he won the Scudetto, he has strong friendships in the team, with Thiaw and Musah above all.
On the pitch, the new coach is experimenting. With Conceiçao, he can play as a mezzala – perhaps with Fofana in the centre of midfield – or as one of the pairing in a 4-4-2. It is less likely at the moment to see him used as an attacking midfielder like in the spring of 2023 under Stefano Pioli.
Speaking of Pioli, he visited the squad in training yesterday and he encountered a Bennacer with a new longer haircut and a new style, one that he will hope continues in the new year.
Bennacer will improve, regain fitness, his sharpess will recover, he will regain his speed, stamina, will press better, tackle better and will deliver more accurate and longer passes at a faster rate.
Then he will get injured again…
Omg you’ve got me there lol thought the ending would be like “let’s have patience with him.”
True tho and what I’ve noticed is that he’d be out injured during the important periods and only recovering to be available around the transfer windows to make us consider him the new signing then a week after the window closes boom injured for another 4 months. Deceiving really.
But I quite love he’s presence on the pitch. He brings good control of the game and we don’t have another player like him in that sense.
Less than 50-50 he gets injured again before the season ends.
But sure. If we can get him to his old lvl again we’d have a solid midfield. Still need a proper DM but that’s never gonna happen with this management.
I think they don’t have a choice BUT to spend this window. Conceicao wasn’t born yesterday and his reputation precedes him. NO way he would agree to take over a dumpster fire without guaranteed reinforcements.
Not to mention the way this management handled the Post Pioli processions has been an absolute sh!tshow. So to validate some sort of cred back (not that there’s any left, but Conceicao’s appointment does offer hope) they would have to back Sergio and give him what he needs.
IN THEORY.
Spending comes in two forms, a long term but expensive addition eg Ricci / Frendrup or a cheaper stop-gap eg Bondo
Conceicao might have asked for reinforcements but I’m not sure the management is prepared to properly spend for quality, they just pad the squad with quantity.
For him [Conceição] to accept such a short contract with such a low wage means he must be really confident that he can turn things around (that or he’s really broke) and earn himself a renewal in June.
So either thinks that this team is great but that Fonseca failed to use it to its full potential or maybe he already agreed with the management about some purchases that need to be done when he comes.
But that’s my theory.
It’s true. We can’t play the same 2 guys for the next 4 months every game full game. They need to bring in some fresh blood, but not just a quantity signing.
Idk what will happen.
Firing fonseca and hiring Conceicao has given me a bit of optimism. But then I think about who runs the club and how and I’m in the dark again.
If I understand it right they can’t sign just anyone without selling someone first. Unless the signing is Italian.
Milan midfield looked a lot better against Rome when Benny came in. There was a palpable jump in quality. Having said that, there were misplaced passed from him as he’s naturally still rusty. But it just goes to show you what a jump in quality could do for our midfield.
I used to think RLC/Benny/Reijnders would be a formidable midfield, but RLC is AWOL and Benny has been injured too often and too long.
Now we’re lucky enough to have locked down Fofana and Reijnders in the middle, but still need that solid DM next to them to truly lock this midfield down.
“Milan midfield looked a lot better against Rome when Benny came in. There was a palpable jump in quality. ” Exactly or as ppl said after the game he was trash lol 😆. He’s so effortless when it comes to avoiding presses. We miss that in midfield. Had the same as.sessment as you about Benny in the Roma game
However he’s just to injury prone. As much as I like him as a player, we’ll need to find his replacement along with Kessie. Once we can secure those two replacements we’d be incredible!
Also don’t give up hope on RLC just yet (and that’s coming from me lol 😂). Based on what I saw of Porto when they played us, I think coach can maximize RLC strengths which is literally his strength.
Isma and Fofana in central mid with Tiji roaming in the free pockets ahead of them is a fantastic idea. We just need a decent ball playing striker who can unlock the runs of Puli and Leao.. Giroud was that but now we dont have nobody who can do that…