Milan just about managed to advance to the last 16 of Europa League as they beat Red Star Belgrade on away goals. Tonight’s clash ended 1-1, thus making it 3-3 on aggregate. Down below are the player ratings.
Starting XI
Donnarumma (6): Wasn’t called into action many times big made a huge save in the 70th minute to keep his side in front. Couldn’t do anything about the goal, which should be blamed on the captain.
Calabria (5): Wasn’t his best outing in the Milan shirt as his work was slightly below usual in both phases of the game. He got beaten a few times and also failed to add anything important in the attack.
Tomori (5.5): There are no major complaints about the Chelsea loanee this evening. Perhaps his position could have been better on a few occasions, but he also made a few good interceptions and was strong in the duels.
Romagnoli (4.5): After the Inter display, you would have expected him to close down his opponents more, but no. Terrible defending on Red Star’s goal as he left far too much space between himself and the striker. Poor again.
Dalot (4.5): Very bad from the Man Utd loanee. Besides a few sprints, he didn’t add anything to the team and he committed several fouls. Was also very poor in the attacking phase and missed a great chance in the first half.
Meite (5): The first half wasn’t impressive at all with fouls committed and misplaces passes. However, he stepped up a bit in the second and at least gave something to the team with his size. Not convincing, though.
Kessie (6 – MOTM): Scored the opener from the penalty spot and worked very hard in midfield this evening. Was important in both phases of the game and he was the best Rossoneri man on the field.
Castillejo (5): Was invisible for most of the first half and didn’t really add that much to the team. A bit better in the second but he was taken off in the 66th minute. Not as good as the first leg, that’s for sure.
Krunic (5): Pioli decided to sub him off after the first half and there weren’t really any situations to evaluate with regards to the Bosnian. He did, however, win the penalty for Milan and was solid overall.
Calhanoglu (5.5): We have certainly seen better games from the Turk but he was still an important player for Milan in the play, especially to help them keep the ball. Just like the others, though, he also needs to improve.
Leao (N/A): Was taken off after the first 45 minutes and he would have got a rating if it wasn’t for the fact that he was invisible. He wasn’t really involved in anything and it’s clear that centre-forwards isn’t his best role.
Substitutes
Ibrahimovic (6): Came on and added energy to the team and helped them change the face of the game. Should have had at least one assist but Rebic didn’t exactly help him this evening. A bit sloppy at the end, but not enough to affect his rating.
Rebic (4.5): Disastrous performance from the Croatian who just couldn’t find his feet. Had one clear-cut chance that he failed to convert and also got into a great position towards the end, but didn’t square it to Ibra who was free. A night to forget.
Hernandez (5): Didn’t really see that much of his besides a few bursting runs but he also didn’t make any mistakes or anything. A pass, therefore.
Saelemaekers (5.5): He looked very bright and was important in the defensive phase to keep Milan in possession many times. Had a goal disallowed narrowly for offside.
READ MORE: AC Milan 1-1 Red Star (3-3 agg.): Rossoneri scrape through to last 16 on away goals
Wow… just wow. Milan already look as bad as they did before the amazing run of form last year. There’s very few saving grace performances tonight (Ibra, Kessie) and honestly, very few great performances in the past several weeks. The team as a whole needs to get it’s mojo back. and that much is on Pioli. Also, why loan Colombo and not even try Maldini for Krunic in some of these games, could have used some fresh youthful legs who aren’t tired from the fixture list. Lastly, Romagnoli again poor. He deserves the rest of the season for sure, and every person goes through a bad period of form but if he can’t sort it out by season’s end and prove he can play at the next level we want to go to , then he unfortunately cannot stay longer. Also, the high line ultra press is seemingly not great for us right now especially with our lack of energy. You’d think Pioli would give it a rest for a few games and see if we play more compact and organized.
Colombo, Maldini & also Gabbia should have all been loaned out at the beginning of the season. None of them are ready to play for Milan.
And Romagnoli must go regardless of his form at the end of the season. It has been 7 years without CL already & nobody wants failing to qualify from the group stage next season.
You are not even close on Gabbia. I can understand Colombo and Maldini, but if you are not going to use them then loan them, otherwise if you are keeping them then use them, for some reason we have done neither… And Gabbia is ready he’s played several games this season and done more than fine, he’s ready and should get more minutes again. If I recal we were doing quite well with Kjaer-Gabbia.
Congrats cousin for passing through to the next round!
Another poor display. Pioli has to take the blame for using Romagnoli again. This time I am not even going to blame Romagnoli for having yet another terrible match. Pioli wake up! I predict a massive victory for Roma on Sunday. We have no chance
I agree….Roam have less talent in their squad…but they play well…Pioli is a coward always looking to contain instead of attacking….Hauge,Brahim, Saelamaekers and Maldini are all skilled youngsters but he insists on playing Meite,Krunic and Castillejo that have less to offer….we won’t make the UCL again….if we don’t Fire Pioli….his team lacks a philosophy like Atalanta or Even Inter….he is wasting the talent of this squad.
Romagnoli exposes our defence a lot and we should not tolerate it any more
Another disappointing performance! Erratic passes, players playing individually and not as a team, no confidence and no structure of play. Psychologically the team is under pressure and serenity long gone! High time to review the best top eleven players to make it till the end of the season.
After Loss to spezia, the way Milan played from bad to worst. Pioli , the man who can solve it. Everybody knows that krunic, castillejo cannot give Milan solution, but Why pioli always put them On the pitch??? Players with less creativity…
To me, Romagnoli doesn’t deserve to remain captain because he is dragging the team back. Romagnoli leaves space for defender, separate himself from defense line and have no pace, made the same mistake all the time, and what quality do Krunic and Dalot bring to the team. Both haven’t had a good performance for any match. Pioli need to first get his formation right and his team selection, our past 4matches has been worse, change before it get really really bad, must the team always pay from the back all times?
It’s useless to put the blame on individual players. The way we play (or lack of it) is bad. No ideas. When we have the ball, you do not see the team going forward but going around as if they were playing Musical Chairs. Pioli, if that’s all you can do, Bye bye.
I just don’t know why Pioli insists on the 4-2-3-1….let’s try a 4-3-3…with Gabbia and Tomori in defense….Kessie,Tonali(Revista) and Calhanoglu….and then Hauge,Rebic and Ibra upfront…that way we can have 2 playmakers….Tonali and Calhanoglu in the team….or else play Maldini on the left of the front 3….since he can dribble….We aren’t going to qualify for the UCL if we keep playing like this…and Pioli will lose the job to Rangnick if he insists on the formation that everyone has figured out.
Not sure who’s doing the ratings if they’re watching the game. Dalot had a decent game, him and Tomori were the best at the back but not great. Calabria had a horrible game and to me was the worst of the back. Calha had a very bad game and I’m not sure why they hooked Leao at the half, they could have just put him on the wings with Ibra or on the right because Samu wasn’t doing squat. Krunic like I said before the game started was going to have a bad game and we missed the option of Hauge on the wing as an x factor.
Milan really needs to learn game management. Next time just take the ball to the corner flag to see out the game in the dying minutes please
Poor covering play from Romagnoli. But I also think there seems to be a problem with coverage by the double pviots which we didn’t used to have before. Often the backline alone is doing all the defensive work. On the goal Tomori gets pulled off his man due to Calabria up the field (reverse side of the pitch of the inter goal) Romag covers but that space needed either of Kessie or Meite to occupy that bit of space to do the clearing work. Instead it causes huge problems for the defence with 1v1 in lots of space. It happened vs Inter too, Lukaku outsprints Romag but the pivot in this case Kessie was slow to cover the space both before the play was made and also after Lukaku already made his run. There is something wrong with the defensive coverage of the pivots.
Romagnoli should pls leave and Go Forza Milan from this side Nigeria