After two wins in a row before the break, AC Milan travelled to face Napoli in a must-win game for both teams, given the respective top four and Scudetto hopes.
Napoli found themselves a goal up after one minute when Matteo Politano fired in, while Romelu Lukaku also netted to make it 2-0 at the break. This gave Milan a mountain to climb, something not uncommon under Sergio Conceicao.
The Rossoneri squandered a big opportunity to get back into the game when Santiago Gimenez missed a penalty off the bench, and other chances went begging before Luka Jovic halved the deficit inside the final 10 minutes.
The defeat means that the Diavolo remain in ninth position, and fourth place is now nine points away. Champions League football has almost definitely vanished, with a Coppa Italia semi-final against Inter the only real hope. Here are five things we learned from the game.
1. The Felix mystery
Joao Felix came on loan from Chelsea this winter and fans were sceptical of the move given how the player has failed to find consistency since his Benfica days.
Felix did, however, get off to a great start with a chip finish against Roma minutes after coming on the pitch, which gave hope to the fans and the management that this transfer might just work out.
Unfortunately, the reality is that bar a few moments after the Roma game Felix has been invisible in both phases of the game bringing nothing to the pitch. The stranger thing is that Conceicao continues to force him into play game after game despite no added value.
Against Napoli he opted for Felix from the start thus benching Rafael Leao, and whilst we’ve heard the notion that Leao can be a game-changer of the bench in second halves when the opposition is tired, he still offers more than his compatriot.
The reality is that Felix brought nothing and Leao was Milan’s main man in the second half, so he should’ve started the game regardless of his consistency issues, especially given his record against Napoli.
2. The Walker dilemma
Kyle Walker arrived in the winter with the mission to try and help stabilise the right flank, where both Emerson Royal and Davide Calabria struggled through the first half of the season on what was ultimately the weakest side of MIlan’s defence.
Walker did feel like an instant upgrade on the duo, at least defensively, as he brought some composure and experience. Yet, eventually his performances at the back declined whilst he is yet to deliver much going forward.
Against Napoli he was at fault for the second goal as he kept Lukaku onside whilst the whole defensive line was two metres further up the pitch. He also struggled in the tie against Feyenoord, and his best performance so far might be at most a 6/10.
The management really have to reflect whether a 34-year-old player that has shown signs of steep decline is really a solution. He doesn’t look like much of one now – especially given his salary – and he probably won’t get better as he continues to lose his pace.
3. Familiar issues persist
Before sacking Paulo Fonseca, Milan did actually begin to show signs of improvement at the back, but failed to score goals. After Conceicao arrived, the Rossoneri found the capacity to outscore their opponents whilst conceding pretty much every game and almost always first.
In recent weeks – with the attackers struggling for goals – Milan now look like a mid-table team at best and they concede twice every game guaranteed at this point. The issue extends to the individuals, too.
Under the new coach, Strahinja Pavlovic did improve a lot initially and was probably Milan’s best player for a few weeks, but he to has fallen of a cliff. The issue with the Serb is that when it’s not his day he really struggles and makes sloppy mistakes, like his marking on Politano’s goal.
Fikayo Tomori and Malick Thiaw obviously missed out in the game at the Maradona on Sunday night, yet both have failed to nail down a consistent starting spot. Matteo Gabbia, who has been great for Milan since coming back from Villarreal, has also shown some weaknesses.
The bottom line is that out of the four centre-backs Milan have, at best one of them is consistent enough: Gabbia. It’s hard to blame him with everybody around and in front not helping at all. This is an issue that must be addressed, with a new coach and potentially help from the window.
4. A steady decline
Youssouf Fofana arrived from Monaco during the summer transfer window and despite joining late, he quickly established himself as a regular starter in the side. He even went on a run of over 30 starts in a row, and this seems to be catching up with him now.
Since the turn of the year, his performance levels have dipped quite noticeably. Conceicao has not been afraid to bench him, clearly aware that his battery might be running low, though he did not take a chance to shine against Napoli.
The Frenchman has been struggling in both phases of the game. His decision-making and passing are dreadful too, proven by the times he’s lost possession in key areas throughout the season. Unfortunately, it feels like Milan need another midfield overhaul during the summer.
5. Toothless up top
Tammy Abraham got a start after some good performances off the bench, which made Conceicao’s decision fairly easy given that Santiago Gimenez has been struggling for quite some time now and returned from international duty not at 100%.
Yet, Abraham didn’t really help himself as he was not great at all in that first half. The Englishman was too sloppy when he did get the ball and his hold-up play was also very poor, preventing his team-mates from coming to support the attack.
Somehow, Gimenez then came on and did even worse than Abraham as he missed a big opportunity after a nice flowing move down the left, and then failed to convert a penalty with a very poor shot from the spot.
Ironically, it was Luka Jovic that actually showcased instincts in the box to get a goal back for his side. Maybe we should actually start seeing a bit more from the Serb, even if he is out of contract in a couple of months.
Sérgio Conceição’s time is UP. He was one of my favourite candidates during the summer and I still believe he could have done a better job then and while I defended him during january and february he has now clearly ran out of excuses. Season is over anyways, but I don’t see a good reason to keep him till the end of may.
We’ve commented on the lack of preseason and succession of games (a game each 3 days or so), but every since the Lazio game we have been playing at a reasonable interval and we’re coming of a 2 week break, largely enough to work on the tactical aspect.
During the last break, Fofana, Bondo, Gabbia and Félix didn’t play a single minute while Pavlović and Théo missed a game. So it’s not like exhaustion was such a big factor yesterday and you could say most of our starting XI were pretty well rested.
As pointed by the article, most of our players are currently in the decline, and as of late it seems that any team can break our lines and create enough chances to score at least once while our own goals came mostly through random chances, individual efforts and throwing in the kitchen sink in the second halves of the games.
We should probably play a 5-5-0 or something like that next wednesday against inter and clear the ball and fake injuries to at least avoid a humiliation because we clearly ran out of luck that allowed us to win the supercopa and to hold a draw last time.
We should also stop worrying about how many points we’re from 4th or 6th or even 7th. We should realistically look at how far we’re from the 18th position.
But let’s be honest, he (and Fonseca previously) are not the only ones to blame, this is a poorly constructed squad that suits no scheme or no style whatsoever with poor excuses of leaders, no soul and not grinta and managed by incompetents that know nothing of football.
EDIT: I had to repost because the website swallowed my comment.
Some easy reasons to many of our problems
1. CBs lack chemistry. Blame it on injuries, coach etc, it feels like every game we have a different CB pair. When you change that often, you cant build chemestry
2. Fofana is clearly burnt out. He played every minute in our most physically demanding position. Cant really blame him.
3. Up front, we either need to give time to Santi and play to his strengths OR play with a Tammy-like striker and give him service. We currently do neither. Santi is in the mold of Firmino, Jota, heck even Mbappe. You dont see Madrid doing endless crosses or asking Mbappe to hold play. If you want that, then get a Halaand type. But decide on a direction.
4. Felix is 100% going back – Easy
5. Walker: Tricky, started well (low bar admittedly) but he is showing either age or not understanding the coach.
1. Sottil or even Chukwueze (with Pulisic playing on the left) should have started instead of Felix.
2. Walker is getting used to a new league. He was keeping Lukaku on side because he was following a Napoli player making a run down his side. Miscommunication.
Pulisic risky pass to Abraham that was intercepted by Boungiorno deep in Milan half was the main factor for the 2nd goal. But, no excuse like “It’s hard to blame him with everybody around and in front, not helping at all” when it comes to Walker as is the case for Gabbia .
3. Funny how Pavlovic is getting blamed for the first goal even though he is marking Lukaku when Politano, who is Theo’s guy, makes a run between Pavlovic and Theo, while Gabbia, supposedly the most consistent milan CB, is marking absolutely no one and allows Politano free shot on goal.
Milan most consistent CB this season has been Thiaw, except for his blunder in week 1. Gabbia had a strong start, but since his mistake vs. Dinamo, he has fallen off a cliff, but of course, we will turn a blind eye when he is bad because he is a Milan youth product.
4. Fofana job should be just to recover balls and then make the simplest of passes to the closest Milan player next to him. He should not be allowed to shoot the ball.
5. Since Milan doesn’t really provide any service for the strikers, luka Jovic is the only striker who can actually drop and be part of the build up, by holding up the ball and releasing wingers or midfielders making runs, just like Lukaku plays for Napoli.
Hopefully I’m wrong about Gimenez but even before Milan signed him and while some were hyping him up over the summer, I don’t see anything special about him. Another stupid move by management to make a panic buy when Morata and Tammy are actually better than him but just like him they got no service.
on #5 see my earlier comment. i guess the question is do we want a target man or a mobile striker? We got no direction. You grade Halaand and Lukaku on his mobility and agility and they are horrible. Firmino, Mbappe, Griezman, Julian Alvarez etc excel and vice versa. We’ve been accustomed to target man for a while (Ibra, Giroud) .
Bring Maldini back to the management
You need to have a figure like him both for his ability to build a team from scratch and being a motivational figure.
Furlani and moconda out
Gerry sell the team
dovedi reprezentaciju srbije !!
We learned that this is the worstly build team in the league. Also that we have 5 games to save the season since we are 9 points away from 4th spot now. The only good thing thing this season might bring is Redbird potentially selling the club.
we arent making top 4. Our best chance is coppa italia win and qualify to Europa
I guess will see how that goes in Wednesday.
mislim da se zna
1. Sarge is no general
2. There is no team concept. The number of open passes not made was astounding. Sarge is no lieutenant.
3. Every player is now playing below his potential, even individually. Sarge is no sergeant.
4. Felix was not the player we were looking for. Sarge is no Jedi (or manager for that matter)
5. We replace Calabria (aged 28) with Calabria (aged 34). We managed to shorten our UCL bench.
The last point explains also how we ended up with Sarge. Our management does not know how to identify, develop or retain top talent.
Our race is for the best Sporting Director, not 6th place.
A poorly assembled team by a bunch of no experience clowns. Simple as that. Their initial plan, which was always doomed, failed MISERABLY, and so they panicked and made last ditch changes, not even slightly considering if they made sense (they didnt). Now we have a yet another manager who doesn’t fit us, just like the first one, a team full of mediocrity and laziness (except a handful of names: Pav, Gabbia, Jovic, etc.), and a divided management who didn’t have a clue to begin with and now are trying to blame everyone else for their own collective failure
In addition to all of the above good points, management also has no confidence in its own decision making. It’s childish and pathetic.
They selected Lopetegui and then backed down in the face of dissent from the fanbase. Then they chose someone inexpensive, with little experience, Fonseca. And Fonseca was actually doing sort of ok, not great, but showing some positive signs. But they were unable to stick with their decision. So they fired him and put in Conceicao as a panic move–who has zero ability in how to use players to their strengths (see all Milan strikers), how to pick effective talent (see Felix), get players to work together (see defense), man-manage (see Calabria, Bennacer, and Morata who all wanted out), or develop talent (see Musah). Revolution is needed from the top. I personally think Milan would be better off out of Europe next season so they can start training from scratch without the midweek matches.
Point 5 gave me a good laugh.
Sad but true.
Toothless up top? Milan’s midfield was non existent and created nothing in the first half. It’s clear there is a bias when it comes to Abraham.
When Gimenez doesn’t get involved against weaker teams, he isn’t getting service. But when Abraham is isolated up top with little to no service against a title contender, he didn’t help himself. Everyone in the Milan side was poor during the first half.
Any news on almighty Ibra? Did the lion get well or is he still on his period?
Did we learn that Giminez and Jovic are the same player and that €35m was wasted on a second striker, yet?
Well we replaced Calabria (age 28) with Calabria (age 34), so it seems to be keeping with the theme.
Worse Gimenez was know to fade in big games. We only play in big games.
Oh then there is the matter of a poacher needing service.
Poorly constructed team. Poor coach. Poor season.
So in other words, nothing is working? And our star players are missing in action? Sounds about right.
1. Buy some local players
2. Give opportunity to academy products, Liberali should start all the matches
3. Bring an experienced Italian coach.
4. Deep lying playmaker is missing, this team is similar to Juventus before Pirlo.
5. RB is still a problem.
If we’re looking for another new rightback again, might as well have a look at Mattia Zanotti, who is playing for Lugano in Switzerland atm – aggressive, tenacious, good attacking and defensive skills. The only problem is his connection with Inter, but that has never stopped others from joining Milan in the past, and vice versa.
Walker, while still decent, is clearly past it at 34, and his wage is just too much, particularly if we fail to qualify for CL next season. I pray the sporting management side will finally make the right decision on the RB position after the Emerson-Calabria-Walker-Terracciano-Florenzi-Jimenez merry-go-round this season
Bring Maldini back to the management
You need to have a figure like him both for his ability to build a team from scratch and being a motivational figure.
Furlani and moconda out
Gerry sell the team
After 2 Weeks, to choose this starting 11 is crazy.
With the way things are right now, jovic deserves a starting spot in this team.
Probably use a 4-4-2 with two striker
Leao and puli drop back a bit on the wings
Tijani and reijnders as holding midfielders.