AC Milan once again found themselves in a hole at half-time against Napoli, with the defence breached quickly and regularly.
This morning’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) writes that Milan are ‘leaking from all sides’, but above all the approaches to the matches and the defensive phase are worrying. Let’s leave aside, for a moment, the reaction of the second half with which the Rossoneri almost drew level.
The first half was worrying, as happened too many times during the Sergio Conceiçao era. The numbers in the league and the elimination in the Champions League play-offs condemn the management of the Portuguese coach (after that of Fonseca).
Fourth place is unattainable, now nine points away, and now Conceicao has the chance to win the Coppa Italia, but that depends on a two-legged semi-final against Inter. Is it possible to beat the league leaders like in Riyadh? Football is unpredictable, but the odds are not in Milan’s favour.
A ‘sieve-like defence’
Including the return leg in the Champions League against Feyenoord, there have been seven games in a row with at least one goal conceded by the Rossoneri. It’s difficult to aim high when you can’t defend.
Does the constant rotation of the two central defenders also have something to do with it? Milan do not have a starting defensive pair. Theo’s closing-down errors are innumerable, but Pavlovic has also made mistakes again. Fikayo Tomori, who was kept during the winter transfer window and then used as a starter, has been on the bench since mid-February.
Just counting those in the league, the goals conceded are 35, which is far too many. The worrying statistic, however, is another one above all: in the 20 games with Conceiçao on the bench, therefore also counting the various cups, there have been just three clean sheets.
Wrong approach
We must also talk about the bad starts made, like the one last night at the Maradona: a horror first 20 minutes and the two goals scored by Napoli. With the Portuguese coach, it is the 12th time that the Rossoneri have gone behind.
It cannot happen to a great team to have to come back so often. Especially if you want to aim high, something that Maignan and his teammates can no longer do. At least in the league.
The Coppa Italia, if won, can still allow entry into the Europa League and put the 51st trophy in the history of the club, but the Champions League is a mirage. And without that, goodbye to so many millions of euros arriving from UEFA.
A bridge too far
Finally, the numbers against the teams that are above Milan in the standings speak loudly. In the 12 matches played so far against these teams in Serie A, the Rossoneri have only beaten Inter (in the year data) and drew against the Nerazzurri (in the return match), Lazio, Roma and Juve.
Of the 36 points available, they have only taken seven. And above all in these 12 games against their direct competitors, only once (0-0 against the Old Lady) has the defence not conceded a goal.
The attack has never been the issue – the lack of interest and focus in defending is the real problem. The goals we keep conceding are amateurish.
That’s what happens when you play high press football with players and formation not suited for high press football.
And Pavlovic was really poor last night. He has physicality and stamina but lacks IQ.
Pavlovic he has to cover 2 positions: gabbia and Theo was too far away from their own position. What do you expect??
Yeah, Pavlovic was left all alone last night. Yet he was still the one charging forward to get the equalizing goal in the last minutes. He wanted to win. Not something you can say about 75% of the rest. At least he’s trying.
Pavlovic is a player for Torino. That is the maximum level you can play at without football iq. He has none, told you on the day he was signed. He is a gorilla that can’t use its head. This is not NFL.
Could you do an analysis of Musah too? Just curious…
LMAO……..
Conceicao’s record now stands at:
20 games
W=10, D=3, L=7
GF=30, GA=26
GD= (a dismal) +4
That is 1.65 points per game.
Fonseca meanwhile after 20 games was:
W=10, D=4, L=6
GF=39, GA=26
GD= +13
1.7 points per game.
Whilst the PPM was similar (Fonseca improved a bit more in his final 3 games).
The major difference is the lack of goals scored plus a high number of goals conceded.
There have been almost no games where Conceicao has had a comfortable win.
The Goals For column is very weak.
Every game follows the same poor pattern.
The main reason is horrible preseason. I still remember Liberali played most of games on AMC and then we didn’t see him again. And so on. Fonseca destroyed the season by his stupidity. We don’t know how would Conceicao do from the beginning but he wasn’t the right guy to bring the team up. But there is no one, if Guardiola joined Milan in January he wouldn’t do much better until next season and him bringing in players he wants. Conceicao was a good bet, similar to Tudor that Juventus bet on. It didn’t work.
Both Portuguese are thrash
We have the worst ever CBs in Milan history. They are all bad. They get easy fouled. They can’t defend. We used to have the best in the world. Now we have players that wouldn’t have playing time in another club.
1. Felix and Abraham adding nothing that they should be. Won’t renew it
2. Pavlovic play good game last night but he has to cover 2 positions: gabbia and Theo too far away ( first Napoli goal ). He like work alone in defence.
3. Theo play as usually, play save game. He isn’t like 2 years ago when he was so good in attacking phase to support Leao & giroud. I think he could be on the sale if Milan failed European football.
4. Bondo was good when he hold the ball. He could be kessie / bennacer 2.0
Yes rhea. Pav is good. He lose his marking, and we have 2 goals conceded.
We should keep pav next season, sell the others defender.