Malick Thiaw’s future at AC Milan seemed to be uncertain during the summer transfer window, but now he is once again a crucial part of the defence.
When Thiaw struggled in the opening game of the season against Torino – scoring an own-goal after failing to clear a ball off the line – journalist began sharpening their pans and fans readied their social media verdicts.
After a difficult 2023-24 season due to a combination of lengthy absences and general bad form as part of an overall struggling department, all the talk over the summer was about the German departing for pastures new.
Summer speculation
There was talk of Newcastle United being interested in signing him, while the shadows over the former Schalke man grew when the arrival of Strahinja Pavlovic from Red Bull Salzburg was confirmed later in the window.
Then, it all seemed to change because of two things. The first was Pierre Kalulu’s exit to Juventus, which bumped him up one in the centre-back pecking order and also ruled out another departure in the eyes of the management.
Then, a report came from Patrick Berger of Sky Germany regarding the rumours that a €41m move to Newcastle for Thiaw was imminent. As part of that, he declares that Thiaw could ‘imagine the idea of staying at Milan’ because he is ‘very happy in Italy’.
With that positive spirit in mind, Thiaw set about on his path towards a resurgence at Milan. It started with getting fully fit, something not helped by the sprained ankle that kept him out for just under a month in September.
When he returned from that, though, he also seemed to return to top form. It started with that difficult match against Udinese, a 1-0 win and a clean sheet after the Rossoneri played for over 60 minutes with 10 men.
Turning point achieved
Paulo Fonseca seems convinced by him and has not been able to leave him out since. Only against Slovan Bratislava did he decide to rotate and the results were two goals conceded against a team that had previously only scored twice in four games.
Sometimes we need to be reminded that Thiaw is just 23 years of age, but his previous high-level performances with Milan – particularly in 2022-23 as part of a three-man defence – and his appearances for the senior German national team make him seem beyond his years.
In recent games he has gone back to showing that attention, tactical discipline and even ability in the build-up phase that make him potentially a mix of an old-school centre-half and a more modern interpretation of the role.
Then there was that night in Madrid. At the Santiago Bernabeu he opened the scoring with his first goal for the club and it set the Diavolo on their way to a memorable 3-1 victory. Los Blancos didn’t score from open play, and part of that was down to Thiaw’s commandeering display at the back.
As Fonseca continues to search for affirmation regarding the centre-back pairing that he can rely upon, positive signs are coming from Thiaw and from Matteo Gabbia, while Pavlovic and Tomori have been relegated for now it seems.
The data
With 22 goals conceded in 17 games played, it can be strongly argued that the lack of an established central defensive duo has hurt any attempts to build resilience, with the chemistry and cohesion not allowed to build.
However, Fonseca has also made it clear that he is not only in a phase of trying to figure out what each of his centre-backs can bring, but he also wishes to manage their minutes too given the hectic nature of the schedule.
Below is how the various combinations used have done so far. Though Gabbia-Thiaw hasn’t been tried too much, there are green shoots.
➤ Gabbia-Tomori: Five starts, five goals conceded, one clean sheet.
➤ Thiaw-Pavlovic: Four starts, five goals conceded, two clean sheets.
➤ Tomori-Pavlovic: Four starts, nine goals conceded.
➤ Thiaw-Tomori: Two starts, three goals conceded.
➤ Gabbia-Pavlovic: One start, zero goals conceded, one clean sheet.
➤ Gabbia-Thiaw: Two starts, zero goals conceded, two clean sheets.
Looking at some comparisons in stats between last season and this season for Thiaw, FBRef provide some striking data.
His pass completion is up to 94.3% from 91.6%, with 83.6% on long passes (up from 73.9%). Thiaw is attempting more long passes too (7.86 per 90 to 6.39 per 90), perhaps because of Fonseca’s instructions.
Tackle numbers are down from 1.89 per 90 last season to exactly 1 this season, but his success percentage is higher (71% to 49%). He remains around the same on interception and clearances, while aerial duels won has gone up from 2.06 to 2.43.
The German rock and the boyhood Milan fan can be the complementary pairing many never thought they would be, but the field will do the talking starting with the test against Atalanta on Friday.
Thiaw in 23/24 season was incredible for his age.
Then the usual geniuses here wanted him sold after a season where he struggled for fitness/form.
Much like Kalulu.
I spent the summer defending him.
We would be far better off with Kalulu/Tomori/Thiaw/Gabbia/Simic
than
Emerson/Tomori/Thiaw/Gabbia/Pavlovic
The management needs to focus on priorities needed in the squad and not mercato opportunities
They create as many holes as they fill.
Now we need a RB when we did not. We need another midfielder (after letting Adli go) and we need a proper striker.
After that I’d take Alexis back over Chucky
If we can get decent money for RLC,
Chucky, Emerson even Musah, that would help our transfer kitty, especially as it seems CDK and Kalulu will be bought by their teams
Our current priories are sub-LB, main RB, 2 midfielders (subs for Fofana and Tiji basically)
Why do we need a main RB when we have Calabria?
Do we retire 27 year olds now?
You talk about priorities and then neglect to list the club captain and longest serving player….
I guess people have different priorities which is part of the problem.
I get what Fonseca is trying to do with CB rotations. But he’s going about it a weird way.
Instead of solidifying a starting CB pairing and then sprinkling out a rotation here and there to interchange them, he guts it every time therefore preventing any sort of consistency between the CBs.
One thing we can take from this is that if you’re going to Start either Pavlovic or Tomori you need a CB that can lead the line as the two of them together is a complete disaster
I noticed that with the stats.
Tomori and Pavlovic are both Man-To Defenders. They take on duels with attackers one-on-one.
Gabbia and Thiaw are more “Team first” defenders, that rely more on positioning and supporting their teammates when they play the defensive line.
Totally agree that pairing Tomori with Pavlovic is the worst combination of the bunch.
Tomori-Gabbia Wins against Inter.
Tomori-Thiaw Wins against Real Madrid.
That’s because both Gabbia and Thiaw can support Tomori venturing forward to initiate duels with opponent strikers. When Pavlovic is already bombing up to do what Tomori is normally doing, Fikayo cannot be the one to support, since he’s doing the same.
It’s so obvious. So unless Fonseca is forcibly pairing Tomori and Pavlovic together to train one or both to support each other (like Thiaw and Gabbia does), I have no idea why they keep getting to start together.
He’s a good player. Strong. Big. Comfortable with the ball. People say he’s not intelligent but that’s false. He just takes more risks with often moving out trying to quickly win the ball back. That sort of game actually suits him. Tomori too does this although the Englishman he’s been actually for over a year. Gabbia is good but he takes less risks in regards to that therefore his positioning looks better. Imo Thiaw is more likely to be a more complete modern CB in the future.
*Tomori has been bad for over a year
Newcastle united we aren’t your super market. You were very luck to grab Tonali now Go and target elsewhere.
I’m glad Milan kept him. The lack of patience with young players is frustrating. CDK was 21 when we gave up on him and he has improved a lot since. Gabbia was shown the door until we had an injury crisis. Kessie, Leao, Tonali, and Diaz all took time to get going. Kalulu and Thiaw had a few bad games after returning from injury and the management were prepared to let them go. They let a very promising Simic go as well. What was even more frustrating to me, was the media coddling Reijnders for a whole season until he found his feet, while simultaneously hammering Leao, Kalulu, and Thiaw, all of whom are younger and still capable of improving as well.
I hope the management keep this in mind going forward.