There is a cliche in football that the timing of goals does not matter, only that they are used in a win and Massimiliano Allegri is clearly a disciple of this.
With Allegri, you know what you are getting. A manager who prioritises wins and results, as opposed to high-octane football. Of course, this is not a bad thing and Milan sit second in the table as a result of it.
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However, there may be some weaknesses to his methodology, and in the first half, there is a small issue being raised, perhaps.
Worst of the Six
As Tuttosport writes, Allegri’s Rossoneri side have ‘nightmare first halves’, with no one in the top six doing worse than the Diavolo in the first 45 minutes of games. Since November 23, his side have only scored once before the break.
In addition to this, they have also conceded four goals in the first halves, showing that they may be weaker than others in this category.
Of course, this is not a bad thing either. Inter have a 12-12 record, so whether this is necessarily a better thing can be debated. Instead, Allegri is just rather happy to sit in and strike when the time is right, confident that his team will not give up goals easily.
Classic Allegri Corto Muso. Sit back all of first half, concede nothing, invite pressure and tire out opposition. It is sustainable for a top four finish, which is all he is asked to do so far. But next year in champions league not only will not work, but it will also get us knocked out early.
But Hey, all we are being asked for by the management is just to participate in Champions League, right?
Exactly! Allegri will get the top 4 spot, he can even challenge for the title if Inter players get tired fighting on all fronts (like every year in the past 5-6 seasons). But our players have the potential to dominate against almost all teams in the league and in Europe. Instead we are being dominated by bottom table clubs. I get we have a limited bench and sub optimal defense, but man… would have been good to be a bit more flexible..
“But our players have the potential to dominate against almost all teams in the league and in Europe.”
Oh really ?
Like whom for example ?
In our midfield whom outside of Modrić (who is on his way out) and Rabiot is actually a ̶g̶o̶o̶d̶ above average midfielder ? Fofana ? Who can’t aim to save his life ? Ricci ? Who pass either backwards or horizontally ? Loftus-Cheek, the weakest tall strong guy ever ? Or the unknown Jashari ?
Pavlović ? Gabbia ? Tomori ? who all were there in the worst defense last season ?
Half fit Leão ? Half fit Pulišić ?
The green Bartesaghi ? Saelemakers ?
Giménez ? Nkunku ? Füllkrug ?
Many of these players were 8th last season and were out of the scudetto race by november in 2023/24, but just because we’re for once since 2022, not so far from 1st place, doesn’t mean all of a sudden we have a good squad.
Wrong, as usual.
Ok.
Now show us the full-time record among European contenders.
It’s called the league table. We’re in second 😅
Which would mean they have the best second half record. What a stupid article.
” A manager who prioritises wins and results, as opposed to high-octane football.”
Wrong. You mean a manager who prioritizes not losing… There is a difference between playing to win and playing not to lose. Hence all the ugly, boring 1-1 draws. Get top 4 then bring in a real coach with some real ideas who is not stuck in the past.