AC Milan overturned a deficit once again and thus prevailed in the ‘preparation clash’ against Bologna tonight. Santiago Gimenez was crucial off the bench and below are the player ratings for the Rossoneri.
If you haven’t already, make sure to check out how we decide the player ratings. From the scale to what affects the rating, we have compiled everything there.
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Starting XI
Maignan (7): He made a couple of good stops in the first half, but Bologna didn’t really test him much. The Orsolini shot was impossible to save, let’s be real, and he then made a fantastic stop at the death when the score was still 2-1. We should also highlight his pass to Chukwueze before the second goal.
Tomori: (N/A): The Englishman was subbed off after just 14 minutes following a head collision, which seemingly made him dizzy. It came after a nice header back to Maignan but he also had one questionable move before that. In any case, I didn’t see enough to give him a rating.
Gabbia (6): As always, it was mostly solid positioning from him tonight and we saw some crucial interventions at the back, headers as well as clearances. That being said, he lost the duel before Bologna’s goal and even though it was difficult to fully follow his man (given the pass wasn’t close to the penalty box), it lowers his grade a little here.
Pavlovic (5.5): He didn’t really convince in possession tonight and obviously, he got turned inside out by Orsolini on the goal. It’s very difficult to defend against that but he needed to stop him earlier to have a chance.
Jimenez (5.5): We saw some good movement forward from him tonight, on several occasions actually, but he could have been a lot better in the decisive moments. He missed one big chance, allowing the defence too much time, and the crosses left a lot to be desired as well.
Loftus-Cheek (6): Some ups and downs tonight, arguably, but overall he used his size well to help Milan win the midfield battle. Especially when Pobega was on the pitch, but he still can’t quite fill the boots of Fofana (not that we expect him to, though).
Reijnders (6): We have seen livelier games from the Dutchman, that’s for sure, but he still managed to do the basics quite well. It would be interesting to see him in a more advanced role again but at the same time, his passing and movement are important in the build-up too.
Hernandez (6): There perhaps wasn’t a whole lot that stood out from him tonight, but he defended well and also got forward when needed. He had one good shot with his right foot that forced the goalkeeper to make a decent stop.
Pulisic (7): He had Milan’s biggest chance in the first half, following a great team move, but his effort was blocked. There was an opportunity to square it and the shot could have been better. That being said, he was very active with his movement.
That certainly showed in the second half, first with the assist for Gimenez (right place, right time) and then the goal that completed the comeback (also right place, right time). He played on both flanks tonight, so it remains to be seen how it will be in the final.
Jovic (5.5): In the first half, he had some very nice flicks and thus helped Milan create, including the big chance for Pulisic. However, he struggled a lot in the second half and there were also some mistakes in the first 45 minutes. It wasn’t enough to get a pass, in other words.
Joao Felix (7): Even though he could have done better in a few situations, there’s no doubt that he was an important player for Milan tonight. He added energy from the first minute and looked a lot more confident, setting Chukwueze up just before the first goal and then finding a good position for the second. His contributions in the last two games cannot be ignored.
Substitutes
Thiaw (5.5): He had one very questionable moment in possession which could have proved costly for Milan, and he didn’t look overly confident in defence. He needs to eliminate the lapses of concentration from his game.
Gimenez (7.5 – MOTM): Our No.7 is back in form! After the missed chance shortly after coming on, which was a tad unlucky, he picked himself up and opened the scoring with a composed finish. Then, in injury time, he did wonderfully to create space and find the back of the net with his right foot. Fantastic timing ahead of the final as well.
Walker (6.5): The experienced defender played in the back three and he did well in that position, making one crucial clearance on a dangerous pass for Dominguez. He was also good in possession.
Chukwueze (7): There was some luck involved in the pass before the first goal, but you can’t fault his positioning and the timing of the run. On the second goal, the run was even better as he showed his skill on the left flank. And when it looked like he was about to squander a chance, he picked up Gimenez for the third goal. A very strong performance off the bench.
Musah (N/A): We didn’t see enough to give him a rating.
Felix a 7 you have to be kidding at best it should be a 6
I don’t know what’s worse – giving Felix a 7 or giving the guy that scored and setup one (Pulisic) the same rating???
Hit my limit. How can Felix have the same rating as Pulisic? Person who is rating isn’t watching the matches.
We already know that this author is heavily biased against Pulisic – his ratings for Pulisic are always a half to a full point less than other sports news writers
Cristian Pulisic is get a chance to assist teo in first half
Played on wrong poaition Felix is deserved its rating
Me appreciated silenced comentary oh yeah
The bias on full display as usual. Even when he has to give Pulisic a good rating (which kills him to do)he makes sure to point out every negative thing he can. And the good was just “right place right time”.
Meanwhile he gives Felix the same rating for doing nothing but spoiling every opportunity. And Theo “defended well”? Ok. He gave the ball away a ton, whiffed on a header that fell to the Bologna player, luckily to be headed wide and couldn’t defend any cross into the box which has been a problem all year… Solid performance.
100%
Yep. Isak don’t like Puli at all!
From where I come from, being at the right place at the right time in football is a super valuable asset!
It is bizarre how being in the “right place at the right time” is routinely treated as pure luck by the experts on this site. Many world class players have made careers of being in the “right place at the right time.”
100%. The bias is pathetic. Not sure how setting up the game tying score and scoring the winner doesn’t merit MOTM? The you looked who wrote this and then you know…
Maybe it would be lucky if pulsic didn’t lead the team in goals and assists….
Isaac doesn’t understand the game enough to realize that it’s not luck that Pulisic always seems to be in the right place at the right time. It’s called football IQ which great players have and most on this team lack. It’s reading the game, being able to anticipate what’s going to happen and understanding where to be to put yourself in the best position. Has nothing to do with luck.
by Isak’s standards, Inzaghi is a dumb player and the only thing he knows is having the sheer luck of being in the right place at the right time.
Another game where Milan waits for the opponent to score to start playing football.
They looked awful up until Bologna’s goal.
I’m glad Gabbia lost duel leading to the goal was mentioned, because most of the goals Milan conceded since they started playing 3 at the back with Gabbia in the middle came from an opposing striker dropping deep, Gabbia following him, leaving a big hole behind him, losing the duel and opposing team scoring. Thiaw is better suited to play in the middle of the 3 than Gabbia.
RLC had a good game.
Chukwueze was the MOTM for me. He changed the game with his movement and passing. Involved in all 3 goals. I don’t know why he isn’t starting when one of Leao or Pulisic is not playing.
Felix was not good, I don’t know how he got a 7.
Pulisic wasn’t good as well but he came alive for the goals.
Good finishing by Gimenez, especially the 3rd goal with his right foot. I didn’t know he had that in him.
On to the Copa final.
On the side note, if Atalanta beats Roma and Juventus & Lazio draw this weekend, Milan is only 4 points behind 4th place with 2 games left. Very, very, very unlikely, but who knows, crazier things have happened in football.
Felix wasn’t good prior to the formation switch, but he was absolutely a big part of the win after the switch. All four of the front players after the switch deserve a huge amount of the credit for the win. They interchanged with great fluidity, created tons of space for each other and showed what can happen if you play unselfishly. That last 25-30 minutes is what Milan has been trying to build. They need better defenders and midfielders better suited to the requirements.
“I don’t know why he isn’t starting when one of Leao or Pulisic is not playing.”
How many good games Chukwueze had before with us ?
I think his performance tonight was by far his best with us since he came.
How many good games has Joao Felix had for Milan?
Does Milan have a better wing option outside of Chukwueze on the bench?
Is Joao Felix a better option?
Or maybe Musah is a better wing option? How about whatever role upfront RLC had in the previous game vs Genoa when Leao didn’t start?
There is context to everything.
Chukwueze in almost 2 years as a Milan player has had zero continuity when he comes to starting. Joao Felix got more chances to start with continuity in 2 months than Chukwueze in 2 years.
Félix has 0 good games with us, but Conceição has a love relationship with him so.
The others are trash as RW, but so was Chukwueze most of the time.
So Felix has had zero good games with Milan, the others are trash as RW, but you highlighted my comment wondering why the only RW in the squad isn’t starting when Leao or Pulisic are not, who even though hasn’t been very good, he has still had more good games than all other options combined.
Felix’s very first game against Roma, he was good. Recently he was subbed in and was good. But it’s one good game and 20 bad games. He is trash.
Stfu….chucks have some important winning goals for us in the past go and check
Chuk and Felix both stink
I dont really agree with the gabbia coment, he has been our best defender this season and followed his man to try and cut out the pass and hopefully restart the attack. If he didn’t follow, bologna would’ve had a better position in the attack as well, dalinga would have been able to control and turn without much oppostition.
Gabbia had a good start of the season, but since his blunder vs Dinamo Zagreb he has been absolutely Milan worst defender. His mistakes, failure to win duels and poor read of the game lead to Milan conceding goals.
Walker needs to play, especially with a high pressing team like Bologna we need someone that can help the buildup. We can’t afford Tomori and Pavlovic together on the pitch.
I’m really happy for Gimenez. This two goals should give him a bit of calmness and confidence. Pulišić did well also. Chuk brought different energy to that wing which was crucial.
The start was poor as usual. I really don’t get it why we need to be goal down to start playing. This team has serious psychological issues.
Sergio started the game, setting the team with wrong tactics but got it right in the second half with changes and conversion to 4231. Completely different dynamics. However, I’m not impressed by his tactical set up and reading tactics. He gets it wrong many times and then tries to fix it as game developes. By then we’re already trailing.
Anyway, 3 points pocketed and I hope we got a bit of psychological advance over Bologna for next week’s Coppa final.
Sergio starts Every Game with the wrong tactics. They have no ideas how to handle any kind of high press. If they were just going to kick long balls over the top to a striker Tammy would have been the better choice as he is a bigger target and better at hold up play than Jovic.
The only time this team doesn’t look awful under Conceicao is when they fall behind and then go into all-out desperation attack mode. It’s like watching the same match every single week. Might as well start the game off like we are down 2 goals.
Once upon a time there were 11 men wearing red. They kicked the ball around and just so happens to put it in the net…and we clapped. Sorry guys but this houdini act is just not doing it for me. We are being dominated by just about every little team in serie a. The jury is out on whether we have a coach with clear ideas or not or whether we do not have the right material for the Milan jersey. I’ll happily take the 3points because it’s good for morale but whether Conce is moving the dial is another debate altogether.
The jury is not out… It’s in. He’s terrible. Like you said, we get dominated by almost every team we play. This coach has no tactics. Some late game miraculous comebacks don’t change that. This is not a sustainable way to play.
Isaks Pulisic rating is as bad as it gets. The guy gets the assist, scores the winner, then starts the break on the third goal with his outlet pass to chuk and Isak scores him the same as Felix. Dude, you should be grateful for Pulisic as he has carried your team the last 2 years.
Not to Forget, Puli got the official MOTM trophy.
Yes, passing the ball to a player in your own half is half a goal. You people are crazy. Like seriously mentally ill…”with his outlet pass”
For years at this point I have suggested playing chucky on the left, and look how he can actually cross/pass when he is out there.
He is the most 1 footed winger I have ever seen.
I think playing our best available team in this game was very stupid. We need to win next week not now, why show our hand and tire our players?
Nice to see a few goals and happy for Santi but it’s all just too little too late
Chukwueze was brilliant
It seems that 3-4-3 is working quite well for Milan. If Sergio keeps this up and wins Coppa Italia, he should stay.
We beat you 3 times this season. why would you want him to stay?
It is not a matter of wanting or not; I am giving my opinion.
I think you come on here an give an honest opinion that is pretty unbiased.
100% agreed.
Because with Conceição (and this management) staying, inter will not have to worry about us fighting for the scudetto next season.
Haha Sometimes these coaches who start with difficulties eventually become successful. Inzaghi’s start was far from great but he fixed things and got a handful of trophies. Your real problem is the management, not the coach.
Exactly. Management is the issue. Pick a coach and stick with him for longer than 6 months!!
A few thoughts
1. Some of the best passing through the middle of the pitch all year. Reijnders, Felix, and Pulisic connected well all game
2. I think the comments here are unnecessarily negative. If this game was played early in the year when there was still hope there would be more positivity
3. I thought Pulisic caused trouble all game. Does anyone give as much as Pulisic does off the ball. His sprints into the box were awesome. Im glad he ended up being rewarded for his efforts. 7? Please. The man is a baller and played great today.
4. Pavlovic is either great or he sucks. His biggest mistake gaffe was playing Orsolini onside.
5. I really feel a stout CB is the top priority in the metcado
6. Pay Maignon!!!
7. You can’t spell backpass with a GABBIA
8. Best game for Chuck and best game for Santi
9. Im usually critical of RLC. But today he was a boss
10. Overall a really good game against a team above us on the table. Forza
It wasn’t really a 3-4-3, more like a 3-5-2. They finally started playing the ball up the middle to start the attacks. Almost a double pivot as the mids were pretty close to one another and Pulisic was dropping back to become another central midfield. They were able to break the lines as the mid was moving forward often when they received the ball and then when they played the ball out wide they had Bologna on the back foot. This is the type of tactic that suits RLC. He a beast driving forward with the ball because it’s hard to get the ball off him. As a complaint, the ref got all the calls right except he needed to give out a couple of yellows after a player committed four fouls. This allowed Bologna to be more aggressive in stopping ACM going forward at times.
Why not just be honest and write and article detailing why you don’t like Pulisic?
At this point it is just for the attention. We are being tricked by the website.
Sempre Milan – who knee it meant The Onion in Italian?
These guys do have some Onion’esque takes from time to time
Nice comeback win, the sad thing is as bad as we’ve been we’re most likely going to miss top 4 by six points; Maybe if we had Conceicao earlier or made some better signings we would be firmly in the champions league next season.
Or maybe Conceicao should have switched to 343 much sooner.
Instead of playing well over 20 matches in the same formation and giving up at least 2 goals per game.
Are we mathematically out of the UCL? I think there are some weird combinations that can place is fourth including draws in the direct head to head for Juve, Lazio and Roma. Instance corrected though. Haven’t worked out the math yet. But I’d say the probability is low.
I think with inter at the ucl final 5 teams should qualify from Italy that’s if am correct
Juve will beat Lazio
Atlanta will beat Roma
Then inter will beat Lazio
and we will beat Roma
Bologna will draw florentina
So we will have
Milan 63pnt
Roma 63pnt
Lazio 63pnt
Bologna 63pnt
All fighting for 5th place
With one game left
No, Spain has officially guaranteed a 5th UCL spot. Had Milan, Atalanta and Juve reached the last 16 phase, things could be different now.
No england have the 5th spot
2 coefficient extra places in the current system.
England have the highest score and Spain second highest. Italy 3rd highest last I checked but they cannot mathematically catch Spain.
It wasn’t their fault.
They all had to play Belgium and Holland’s finest teams.
🤦♂️
We’ll at least Belgium’s.
While Milan played a mid table Feyenoord with an interim manager, their star striker poached by us and several of their youth players.
lawl
glad Pulisic got a pass.
Reijnders deserves a damn Iron Man award for this season, 52 games played, while being the best player on this team. Only the camel jockeys and the poo eaters from the dirtiest country in the world hate him for some reason. Must be an Asian thing
Best player? Pulisic is at least equal Tiji this year. Easily the two standout players of the year.
You lad need to calm down with your racist bs. It’s not your first time.
@Oliver, can you please do something about this?
LoL what nonsense.
Nobody, NOBODY hates Tiji. He is a gem
You are just looking for an excuse to spout racial slurs.
@sempremilan this person needs to be blocked
Please no more Italiano fan boys again. Last night approve that conceicao better than Italiano. Maybe Sergio lack of strategy but he approves tactical mastermind…
Felix should be benched and Chuk start at LW when there’s no Rafa
Starters haven’t really learned to be on the same page but they dominate late because of the individual talent off the bench. Not sure why people are arguing. Joao and Chukwue both played well and showed potential.
So Milan win the game 3-1 and we have a bunch of ridiculous comments about the players. We had a match tonight against Bologna and won 3-1, just in case you clowns missed it.
You know how humans are, always focused more on the negative
it was a bad game decided by isolated incidents
Möller got PDS 😂😂😂
pds ? pts, post traumatic syndrome or what or what am I misseing here ?
I’m guessing Pulisic Derangement Syndrome
😀
Looking at the comments you’d believe we lost 3-1.
Assuming this form continues and he wins the Copa, then Sergio should stay. We have momentum and the players seem to be on board.
With a full preseason, and a willing team, we should do much better next year.
I missed the match as my local team FC Fredericia was playing for promotion to the best league for the first time ever and succeeded. Great seeing Milan winning though.
Forza Milan, Hopefully Coppa here we go on Wednesday 🙂
Congrats on your team’s promotion!
Thanks Ted
Positives:
1. Always nice to win
2. Gimenez improving and gaining confidence
3. Pulisic decisive
4. Overall good performance
5. Nice to see a 4-4-2 in the second half
Negatives:
1. We’re still not in the Champions League spots
2. We’ve tried 4-3-3, 4-2-3-1, 4-4-2, 3-4-3 several times this season. Tonight we switched again in the second half. This squad is poorly constructed and one or two changes to the starting line-up forces a system change. This is not conducive to success over the course of a season.
Motm was Chukwueze. And easy.