Home » Player Ratings: Hellas Verona 0-1 AC Milan – Rabiot leads Rossoneri to win
Milan players before Verona away

Player Ratings: Hellas Verona 0-1 AC Milan – Rabiot leads Rossoneri to win

Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images

AC Milan bounced back with a narrow win against Hellas Verona this afternoon and Adrien Rabiot was the big hero. Below are the player ratings for the Rossoneri. 

After the embarrassing defeat to Udinese, Milan definitely needed to prove themselves at Stadio Bentegodi this afternoon. While it wasn’t a brilliant performance, they clinched all three points in the end, with Rabiot scoring the only goal of the game.


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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.


Short Version

🥇 Rabiot (7): The goal obviously plays a massive part, but I thought he was really good even before he broke the deadlock. His movement (especially on the counters) was just what Milan needed to find a way through against a Verona side that defended a lot. Calm finish too on the goal.

👎 Athekame (5.5): Truly a hit or miss performance, with more emphasis on the latter I’m afraid. He got in behind once in a nice way, but didn’t really have any success with his dribbling attempts aside from that.

👔 Allegri (6): He made all the right decisions today, from the starting XI to the substitutions. One way to describe it would be that he relied on the basics. Athekame was perhaps the only question mark but given Saelemaekers’ yellow card risk, it was the correct call.


Starting XI

Maignan (6.5): He made a huge save in the first half to deny Verona an equaliser. Considering that it was a proper 1v1, we have to give him a lot of praise here. The rest of the game was also very solid on all fronts.

Tomori (6): Nothing spectacular, but a very solid one from the Englishman. He used his pace on quite a few occasions, blocking some efforts from Verona’s left flank, and he was okay in the build-up too.

Gabbia (6.5): Crucial block from him at the end, somehow stopping Orban from making it 1-1. He was also very unlucky not to get a goal as an offside in the build-up caused the assistant referee to raise his flag.

Pavlovic (6): We saw a few trademark runs from him, mainly in the first half, and that opened up a lot of space when Milan needed it. Defensively, he did what was required too.

Athekame (5.5): Truly a hit or miss performance, with more emphasis on the latter I’m afraid. He got in behind once in a nice way, but didn’t really have any success with his dribbling attempts aside from that.

Fofana (5.5): It might sound a bit harsh, but I think his passing let him down a little bit today, because the movement was really good in almost every situation. There was one pass for Rabiot that he really should have done better.

Modric (6): Started the game with a run past several defenders to prove that he doesn’t act his age. After that, he controlled the tempo of the clash well (even if Milan perhaps should have been a bit quicker) and was solid in both phases of the game.

Rabiot (7 – MOTM): The goal obviously plays a massive part, but I thought he was really good even before he broke the deadlock. His movement (especially on the counters) was just what Milan needed to find a way through against a Verona side that defended a lot. Calm finish too on the goal.

Bartesaghi (6): Just like his defensive colleagues, it was a good performance overall. He showcased some good understanding of the game with his runs up the pitch, and he made use of his length a lot to get involved in aerial duels.

Pulisic (5.5): Okay, hear me out. The usual running was there, so that’s good, but he really didn’t have much success on the ball. The intention was there more often than not, attempting turns and so on, but the execution wasn’t good enough. Given how Verona played he also had a tendency to disappear a bit.

Leao (6): There’s no doubt that he should have made more use of some of Milan’s counter-attacking opportunities, but the assist was at least nice. For once, it was good to see that he didn’t overcomplicate things, playing the pass in just the right moment.

Substitutes

Ricci (6): He did take a few risks, but managed to work things out by attracting a couple of fouls. It was a smart performance, in other words, and he also added a lot with his work rate towards the end of the game.

Saelemaekers (6): Given the yellow card situation, at risk of missing the Juve game, it was right to bench him but when he came on, it was a really lively performance. And much better than Athekame who, as said, didn’t have much success.

Gimenez (6): I’m a bit torn on this one, as I gave Pulisic a 5.5, but I do think one thing separates the two. While the first minutes were perhaps a bit ropey, the Mexican did well to act as a reference point and even helped set up a couple of good chances. The offside call was minimal.

Nkunku (N/A): I didn’t see enough to give him a rating.

The manager

Allegri (6): He made all the right decisions today, from the starting XI to the substitutions. One way to describe it would be that he relied on the basics. Athekame was perhaps the only question mark but given Saelemaekers’ yellow card risk, it was the correct call.

Tags AC Milan Player Ratings Adrien Rabiot Verona-Milan

140 Comments

  1. It feels like when we win it’s almost by accident… We have to hope that the opposition’s not good enough to put away their chances – then hope that if we pass the ball around enough something’ll come of it… If it does, we hang on for dear life for the rest of the 90. If it doesn’t, we’re screwed. (Unless we’re playing inter, of course, when we suddenly switch to prime Ancelotti era).

    1. Burritos lover Gimenez 6 ? 🤡
      Allegri was red furious with him !!
      35 mln thrown for this utter gаrbage… Can’t stop the ball properly, can’t shoot, no effort at all..

    2. Yep Allegri is a truly horrible manager and one that will have fans turning off and certainly not attracting new ones.
      If he stays I can already hear the jeers from around Europe when we get dominated in the CL by minnows and then come out and say we played well.

      This club is run by con-men, believe in this “project” and your just being scammed

      1. Nice win and that is. We need CL and hope Alegri will stay. Thank you Leao Pulisic and Gimenez we need some new boys

        1. Nice win? One chance created against the 2nd worst team in the league. One corner-kick (on the 85th minute). That was a win but not a “nice” one. Awful one. Verona was the better team on the pitch and that says a lot.

    3. This was a classic Allegri win – one we needed badly after the last fiasco. Won’t get any prettier for obvious reasons. They all look out of steam.

    4. You don’t win 8 1-0 games “Almost by accident”.
      Milan are second behind Napoli in games won by a 1 goal difference (13 to Napoli’s 14).

      None of this is luck. It’s all calculated.

      Fan’s just want a spectacle, but the team don’t have the defensive solidity to play that way, as seen by the Udinese match.

  2. Another forgetful game. Not much missed for those that didn’t watch.
    I’ll take the three points & clean sheet though.

  3. The two outside backs were terrible, especially Bartesaghi. Losing the ball, giving away corners and offered nothing going forward. I don’t even rate the forwards anymore. I see no offensive pattern that gets them on the ball. Leão was isolated and Pulisic basically played as a midfielder on offense 25 yards from the goal. If anyone sees some offensive strategy, please let me know. A deary win.

    1. If Pulisic isn’t playing that deep, we’d have a big space between the attack and defense because Alegri has asked the back line not to move, regardless of us been in possession of the ball or not, this is the reason we don’t win second balls. We had to wait for the 85th min to get our first corner, tells you all you can know. The attack is basically dead in the hope to keep clean sheets

      1. True. So we were really playing a 3-6-1 on offense. The outside backs were MIA in the offense. Neither offered anything besides crosses with the ball at their feet. Saelmaeker was a breath of fresh air.

    2. Pulisic – a 5.5 rating is harsh. He was playing as a CAM/#10, a link-up player from the midfield to the final 3rd. He had the most touches on the team in the final third and was active. His left-sided run on the Rabiot goal pulled one of the two defenders away from the middle and allowed Leao to split them with a very nice pass that Rabiot ran onto and finished, one-touch.

      Given that Verona simply bunkered in, 11 men behind the ball, there was very little room for anyone. I didn’t see anyone else for Milan have any success in passing through Verona’s lines once the defense was set.

      btw that was Leao’s best game this calendar year. He should fetch $60m EU on the transfer market this summer.

      1. Let’s hope Pulisic gets sold for that amount, completely clueless on the ball, stopped several forward flowing moves. Allegri should have subbed him for Alexis early.

    3. Totally agree Bartesaghi was especially poor lots of give away and poor positioning. He’s got the raw talent but has a long way to go. Still is way less of a liability than Estupian. But I’m feeling alittle bit of Italian bias on these ratings.

    4. “Outside back” isn’t a term.

      It’s ‘offence’ not ‘offense’.

      Don’t you have enough problems in your own country rather than coming on here?

        1. Why am I angry that people keep slagging off the team?

          Why do you feel joy when there’s a goal (maybe you don’t, we can’t assume any natural feelings here)?

          If you feel joy for a goal, you should feel angry when people slag off the team.

          It’s all part of the spectrum of emotions that go with supporting a team.

          I’m honestly at a loss as to what most people are doing on here.

        2. He is the crash king who hates conservatives but pushes Italy 🇮🇹 only in Seria A especially at Milan all the while claiming to support Como and lives in Australia. He’s full of contradictions.

        1. Sick of Americans slagging of Italian football. Sick of people slagging off Milan.

          Funny how I’m the only one who seems to give a sh#t.

          1. Im with Ken. Don’t be a troll. Milan isn’t about offending people. Learn to educate in a manner which can lift people up and then you can become a leader instead of just a stone that holds people down. Ironically, Maldini was always well aware of this

    1. Yep he’s an absolute joy to watch.

      You can’t buy that. There’s an understanding and commitment that comes from growing up within the system.

  4. BARTESAGHI was a horror to watch very sloppy and a lot of mistakes. Next season we need to get a replacement ASAP!

  5. Verona is a place where we over the years has found us in troubles and add to that the authorities are actively trying to hamper anything we try to achieve by banning our local supporters from Lombardia and distorting the competition I’m happy that we got this very important win today.
    I agree Rabbiot was the motm today and even if he hadn’t scored a goal I would also still see it that way.
    Overall good win even if large parts of the match had me bored.

  6. At least we won, better get used to Allegri ball he will be here for a few years. Unless he gets the right players we are stuck with this 3-5-2.
    Maignain-7
    Bartesagi-5.5
    Pav-6
    Gabbia-6
    Tomori-6
    Modric-6
    Rabiot-7.5
    Ricci 6
    Leao 6.5
    Pulisic 6
    Athekame

    Subs all get 6

  7. A very boring somewhat game to forget, by no stretch of a football game did we deserve to win, it was a clueless show.
    Positive thing is Modric tried to make things happen, Fofana is still the only person to tread balls.

    To forget… Tomori cannot make a forward pass or a forward rub even if his life depended on it, made the right wing flat.

    Like I have been saying, we have no clear pattern to attack or get out of our own half, we have no pattern in moving the ball, players are always stationary like tress, only a few players actually know what good movements are, no shades but can Modric stop taking our set-pieces and corner kicks when Bartezargi is on the pitch.
    The game is now above Alegri, a change may be sort, and yes we may now cashout on Leao and look for a player with the right charisma.

  8. All it matters are the 3 points at this stage.
    But for next season, unless there are major upgrades, not only in personnel but in style of play and approach of the game, it will get uglier for Milan in UCL than it did for the Italian teams this season.

    1. An idea would be to get a set piece coach.
      Since we’re so garbage at building up might as we try to make set pieces a strong point.

      1. Why is pulisic not taking corners and free kicks anymore? I love pulisic but he’s useless in the box on set pieces may as well have him deliver. Yes we have Modric who is a masterclass however our set pieces have been atrocious especially compared to last year really only one thing that’s changed… just saying

        1. True.
          Last season Pulišić took most of our corners under Fonseca and had some assists and created some goals from there.
          Modrić isn’t great at set pieces. In Real Madrid, it was Kroos who mostly took them.

    2. screw your style of play

      Atalanta losing 10-2 to Bayern and fans celebrating in the stands because of style of play is what loser clubs do

      1. If you think nothing needs to change in how this team plays next year enjoy an early CL crash and burn. Using Bayern v Atalanta is a ridiculous comparison. Bayern is just miles better then Atalanta and may even win the CL. Atalanta at least made it to the round of 16. Did any other Italian team make it that far? Conte did his usual early.

        1. Bayern would do the same thing to Allegri’s Milan. Allegri’s fanboy Boulden can’t understand that because he is too busy just attacking everyone that doesn’t think that dinosaur coach is the best thing to happen to Milan.

  9. This journey has been very good for us with Como then Napoli’s loss and Roma’s draw. It almost “undid” one of the losses we had lately and put us level with Napoli in second place. So we can “pretend” that only inter is technically better than us.
    Furthemore we only need to watch 5 more games of this sh!t show.

  10. “we only need to watch 5 more games of this sh!t show’

    Then we get a few months off before watching the same sh!t show for another 50 games next season.
    There have been bad seasons for Milan but even then we didn’t play a worse type of football than we play now

    1. Yes we did. If you’re watching Milan for 5 years maybe you are correct. In the past 30 years we had much worse periods.

    2. There’s plenty of other ways to spend your time over something that clearly isn’t bringing you enjoy.

      Unless the ‘joy’ is endlessly moaning about the team and slagging off the players, and playing fantasy football in your head.

      1. You are right, I should be like you, quit on the team and support Como. Thats a much better option, right?
        You showed your true colors, so stop trying to tell people how to talk about the club they support, even though they criticize, but don’t abandon.

        1. I was honest.

          I didn’t stick around pretending to support a team and spend my time slagging it off which is just about the strangest hobby.

          1. “I didn’t stick around pretending to support a team ”

            So in other words you stopped supporting the team and turned to Como. You’re nothing but a hypocrite!!! Fng ridiculous that YOU come here to bash people who didn’t abandon their club when things didn’t go as planned. Just stop it already. It’s fng embarrassing.

  11. Take the points and burn the evidence. We have been done a lot of favours this weekend so we’ve done what we needed to do against a side playing for their lives. That 8 point gap should be enough now. We only need 7 points for certainty. Also in a just world it was 2-0, that decision was ridiculous!

    Rabiot was MOM but Gabbia was the difference. The defence has missed his composure so much.

    Now the reality…

    We are unwatchable at the moment. There is precisely zero cohesion in this team and it makes us so easy to play against. You’ve got players like Modric suddenly always taking the safe pass. You’ve got Pulisic making smart runs and being completely ignored. Everything is to slow to develop, passes are constantly being under-hit – no one seems to trust anyone.

    All this talk about Leao – it doesn’t matter who the front two are – none of them are capable of playing in this system. There is no link-up play at all!

    I’ve got one eye on Man City v Arsenal as my son is a City fan – we are a million miles off this standard, a million miles!

    1. What a surprise playing players out of there natural position and there not doing well. It’s hard to win trophies when you can’t score more than one goal a game

    2. If all people do on here is ‘take the points and burn the evidence’ then really what are you all doing watching Milan?

      It’s clearly not bringing any of you any joy and all you’re doing is bringing constant negativity and insulting the manager, players and team even after wins (to put the team 2nd).

      When I decided I couldn’t support the team any more last season I stopped supporting them and stopping watching.

      I didn’t stop supporting the team because they weren’t Man City. I stopped supporting the team because they backgrounded the club captain for months before forcing him out on the last day of the transfer window.

      That decision was largely supported by people on here and had continually put the boot in.

      And those same people have the gall to talk about ‘team cohesion”.

      Any cohesion that is lacking is because the owners pandered to fans like you (or more likely took advantage of it to get some backhanders).

      1. People have been saying take the points and burn the evidence/run etc about every club on the planet since football started you cretin.

        You’ve contradicted yourself there haven’t you. I haven’t stopped supporting the team and NEVER will, no matter how bad things are on the pitch I went to my first game in 95, I’ve seen much worse than this.

        But I spend money on this, I’m allowed to call out when I don’t think it’s going well.

        You’re critical of the team on here all the time and then as soon as someone else is, you’re piping up with nonsense like ‘get another hobby’. Ive called ypu out twice since you did that for saying similar things.

        Stop supporting the club then dude, I don’t care. Go and give the ciggy sellers on the lake your money instead, but please stop commenting on my posts, you’re boring.

        1. Have they?

          I’ve literally never heard so many people complain about a team they allegedly support in a country they seemingly have no connection with.

          I’m not critical of the PLAYERS or the MANAGER ie the TEAM. I’m critical of the OWNERS and the parasitic agents.

          Plus there’s criticism and then there’s just disdain that oozes out of every post (after a win).

          1. Yes, they have. My suspicion though is that you don’t talk to that many humans.

            You’re right, there is a huge difference between criticism and disdain. I am being critical. Yes, there are some who appear to have disdain, but if you cant read the difference (I would say my vocabulary is diverse enough that I’m able to articulate pretty delicately) then that’s not my problem.

            If the comments on the website bring you so much unhappiness, then perhaps take your own advice and find something else to do?

  12. Happy to take the 3points. At least it gives a bit of a buffer between ourselves and Como. Not so happy that we keep on laboring to get these results against bottom half teams. Some nervy moments with the run in upon us. Hoping for the best.

  13. A great weekend for edging closer to the CL. But unfortunately that means the terrorist staying on the bench, dooming the club for the next 4-5 years. Leao and Pulisic will leave, Jashari might too, and the team will be built around Modric, Goretzka and whatever slow striker they have lined up.
    Enjoy losing 3-0 to Brugge and PSV in next years’ CL playing this way.

  14. I really don’t how fans can support Allegri it’s enough our football is terrible.

    Last year we had worse players and played in 2 finals and champions league., I’m sure if they had only one game per week they would have achieved top four with Fonseca and Conceicao. We where only 7 points away. On the otherhand would we have playing in champions league this season and still in the cup race I’m also sure we would be below Como and Roma. People need to wake up.

    1. Becareful what you wish for, West Ham fans did this sh*t and they went from 7th to relegation fight in a season

      stop being so obsessed with bEaUTiFuL fOoTbAlL over results, we wont get a Allegri level coach that easily

      no sane person can think Motta or Italiano is a better choice

      1. For me personally Maresca and Sarri are my 2 options if Allegri ends up taking over the national team. If he does not he better switch to 4-3-3 and get 2 good CB. Or get 2 proper wingbacks and a striker and stick to his formation

    2. I respect what Fonseca tried to do tactically but he lost the players virtually straight away and his substitutions were constantly ridiculous. The players probably got him sacked but players don’t get a good man-manager sacked, and that’s half the job.

      Then Conceicao was an unmitigated disaster. He looked like a lost child by March.

      The football has definitely got to improve but I don’t trust the board to get yet another manager saga rightin the summer. They’ve made three appointments – one was poor, one was terrible, and one was uninspiring – what’s next?

    3. Did you say that last year Milan had worse players?
      Last years team had much better players than this season. The only upgrade this season is the presence of Modric.
      Rabiot and Reijnders are a different type of midfielders but they are a wash. Everywhere else its either even or much worse, especially in attack.
      But you are right about the 1 game a week compared to last season when they played every 3 days for majority of the season

      1. What are you saying Modrić,RABIOT, Fofana, Rlc, Ricci and Jashariis are a better midfield option than Reijnders, Fofana, Rlc/Musah.

        Then we had Emerson who was as bad as Estupinan. Pavlovic was a disaster last year when play with 4 at the back as was Gabbia in some games who costed us the game in champions league. Same as Theo stupid red card.

        Also don’t forget that Leao and Theo acted like kids in some games costing us points in the league. So yes overall I do believe we have better team this year. Having players like Modrić and RABIOT already makes a huge difference and as said we are only playing once a week!!!

        1. Brother, what has Jashari and Ricci given Milan this season?
          RLC was mostly injured last year, he is mostly injured this season, plus thats the same player.
          Fofana was actually better last season.
          Pavlovic is the same player from last season, he just looks better because he plays in a 3 CB line instead of 2.
          Emerson as bad as he was he was actually better than Estupinan.
          Gabbia, just like Pavlovic is a player from last season who looks better because he plays in a 3CB line instead of 2.
          As bad as Theo was he was still better than Bartesaghi and Estupinan.
          Leao as bad as he was, he was much better than this season.
          And most importantly every striker Milan had last season, Morata, Abraham, Jovic, are miles better than what Milan has this season.
          Just to remind you, you said “Last year we had worse players”.
          Last season Milan didn’t play as a team, they had a lot of issues, players – coaches not being on the same page, but the individual quality of the players was much higher than this seasons.

          1. You can’t really ask what Jashari has done for us when he has seen such minimal playing time. And when he did play I saw a couple quality passes. Ricci however I’m not sold on but I’ll keep my fingers crossed.

        2. Milan sold Morata, Abraham, Jovic, Chukwueze, Okafor, Jimenez, Theo, Reijnders, Thiaw, Musah.
          At least Half of them would be starters on this current Milan.
          I still can’t believe that you said the names of Ricci and Jashari. Jashari has played like 5 games all season long, while Ricci is just as bad as Musah was.

          1. Im talking about overall midfield how are Modric RABIOT and Fofana as starters worse than last year midfield starters Reijnders Fofana and Musah.

            Also You must have a very short memory if you think our defenders were better last year. Even Maignan was horrible and many fans wanted him to leave.

        3. “Im talking about overall midfield how are Modric RABIOT and Fofana as starters worse than last year midfield starters Reijnders Fofana and Musah.”

          You speak about short memory.
          Read my 1st response to you. The only upgrade in the midfield is a 40 year old Modric who has to play every minute of every game for Milan to look like a professional team. Fofana was on the team last season, and Reijnders and Rabiot cancel each other out.
          The starting defenders this season are the same from last season. What are you talking about? And as i said, the formation makes them look better than they were last season but they are the same players. Not to mention that Milan played offensive style of football last season compared to park the bus style of football this season.
          You just continue to reply instead of admitting that last season roster was much better than this seasons.
          You keep bragging about this seasons players who were actually on the team last season, but you are saying that last season players were worse.
          You keep talking how the defenders are better but how about Milan 2 best players Pulisic and Leao being worse?
          Maignan isn’t that much better this season than last. Allegri’s defensive style of football, basically playing a back 5 is the reason why Milan gives up less goals, not because Pavlovic, Gabbia or Tomori are better players or that Maignan is better goalkeeper.
          Why are you refusing to address the attack?

        1. Only Lecce have scored less goals in the league than Verona, but we have people hyping up the presence of Gabbia why Milan didn’t give up a goal.
          If football is that simple Frezz than Milan beat inter without conceding a goal without the “composure and presence” of Gabbia. Inter is the team that have scored BY FAR the most goals in the league. 21 more goals than the 2nd highest scoring team.
          Inter have scored 78 goals, Verona have scored 23. But Yay!!! Gabbia.

          1. I was being sarcastic Guly, football is infinitely more complicated than the surface level, hand picked data you are chucking about.

            The thing is though Guly, it’s absolutely fine if you don’t rate Gabbia – I don’t rate RLC at all. The difference is I’m not jumping on any comment by anyone who does, all for the sake of appearing to be a soldierin some anti-RLC army that only exists in my head.

            We won, enjoy your evening.

          2. “Crucial block from him at the end, somehow stopping Orban from making it 1-1. He was also very unlucky not to get a goal as an offside in the build-up caused the assistant referee to raise his flag.”

            We also won. Be happy dipsh*t.

  15. A few thoughts
    1. Please please 0lease improve out FB/wingbacks in the Mercato they are not good enough. There inability to play both offensively and defensively is hurting this team so much.
    2. Such an Allegri game
    3. This is a game where everybody gets a 6. Mike and Rabiot get 7’s but really only for one moment of brilliance. And Athekame and Bart get 5’s
    4. Brilliant save by Mike but how did two players get completely behind our defense which had been bunkering on that play
    5. It looks like we are going to qualify for CL baring a total collapse…but this style of play is going to get murdered in championship league play.
    6. Modric and Bart taking all of the set pieces why? Has either ever done anything good with the dozens of chances they have had?
    7. Laeo and Pulisic had absolutely no help. After Rabiot then next most dangerous tacking player was Pavlovic. That is absurd
    8. Forza

  16. I don’t have problem with 3-5-2 but we don’t have the wing back to play it, the midfield too is visionless, bring Haaaland or Harry Kane to these team there will be no goals for them. The link up play is missing, and the wing back are not providing supplies to the strikers. Anyway we will accept the win

    1. This 1000 percent the strikers are taking all the heat but they literally have to pick up the ball half way up the pitch then make some brilliance almost by themselves. Our midfield has zero link up play. Good luck scoring like that.

  17. Nice. Back to 2nd place. The game was sh*t but after losing 3-0 to Udinese it was quite good not to concede even though they had mistakes again.

  18. wait, leao 6 but puli 5.5. You really do dislike puli.
    I don’t think either of them were great but at least one of them works off the ball. Leao is lazy, even with his height he was losing balls in the air multiple times and not even coming close to contest them.

      1. I mean that does make a difference right? Yes the assist was great but the dude doesn’t give 100percent……ever. It sucks cause Leao has all the potential to be world class he is literally just missing determination and competitiveness. Let’s face it unless those two things change Leao has already reached his ceiling.

    1. Leao got an assist and a few of his runns and dribbles were effective. Pulisic did nothing that actually impacted the game. As I’ve said above he made some really smart runs and it’s frustrating that he seemed to be invisible to his teammates today, but you can’t get a high rating for smart runs where you weren’t passed to.

      1. I’d give them both the same rating. Leao was dreadful but he did play a perfect pass for the assist. Pulisic played a good first half and had some nice link up play. They both bc deserve a 6.

        1. Pulisic was poor, when will you guys start admitting, even in the eyes of ever biased Italian press, all the 3major newspapers rated him the poorest in the team with a score of 5

          1. Wondering what you thought Puli’s role was in yesterday’s game without criticizing your comment?

            For me, it looked like he was asked to play the 10, as he was the only one beside Rabiot looking for a pass from either the back line or Modric.

            Look for the replay of the Rabiot goal and ask if he would have been able to get the same shot off if Puli had not made the run drawing the right back away?

            Was Puli great yesterday? No, not really. But who was? We looked like a team playing with cement sneakers. Our first touches were largely terrible.

            Two other questions.

            1. What team in Serie A fires more shots over the opposing net then Milan?

            2. What team in Serie A has a poorer percentage of balls in the air won, whether coming from the opposition or a teammate?

  19. Once again we get 3 points that helps masks the team’s failure. We have no business making it to the Champions League.

  20. Maignan 7
    Gabbia 6.5
    Tomori 6
    Pavlovic 6
    Athekame 5.5
    Bartesaghi 6
    Modric 6.5
    Fofana 5.5
    Rabiot 7.5 MOTM
    Pulisic 5.5
    Leao 6.5
    Ricci 6
    saelemaekers 6
    Gimenez 5
    Nkunku s/v
    Allegri 6

    A win is a win. Not pretty but 8 points above 5th.
    The team is uninspiring, (we played arguably against the worst team of Serie A but still struggled; especially, struggled to score, and while the defense obviously did OK today, they were playing against the worst Série A offense. We are doing better than last season’s 8th place basically due to Modric and Rabiot.

    The Pulisic issue is puzzling. He turned from by far our best player in the first half of the season, to an utterly ineffective player. No clue what caused it. It’s not just Allegri not giving the right role and position to him because it was the same coach when he was shining earlier in the season.

    1. The Pulisic issue is not puzzling at all. Pulisic was played today as an attacking center mid floating around 25 yards from goal. Where there any passes to be made to the outside backs or runners? Very few.. He did make one to Leao, then Rabiot leading to a foul, and then Pavlovic. Did he do much. No. But neither did Leao. Yes, the one pass was great but that was it. Allegri is a buzz kill for offensive players. There really is no offensive structure. Tell me an offensive player that looks good outside of a play here or there. Early in the season there were a lot of goals manufactured by the player, not goals that came from an offensive structure. Also, he was playing with a #9 so could take up a different position on the field. He is best when making runs in the box to receive the ball, not being 25 yards from goal. So, early in the season his positioning was completely different.

      1. And that one pass was the difference and its equal to 3point, yet you want to compare to someone who actually have a free role and running every where with nothing to show 4 it? Let’s call a spade a spade, he played badly

        1. I’m saying he was 25 yards from goal most of the game doing what Allegri wanted. I’m amazed at how people here get excited on offensive scraps against a relegation team. Take the win but be realistic. This team has no offensive structure. It’s not confidence that is lacking, it’s an offensive plan. But this is Allegri ball.

          1. But if its the other way round, it’s going to be lazy Leao, while agree with you on the offensive structure lacking, i will use Leao with a striker to play the Pulisic role and we will see the difference, but unfortunately Alegri has no confidence in our strikers and rightfully so

    2. Pulisic isn’t puzzling.

      He’s lacking in confidence.

      The mental element is one of the most important part of the game.

      When Pulisic scores again he will get his confidence back.

      Even Leao suddenly grew in confidence after his assist.

      Pulisic and Leao need confidence.

      There’s no point swapping them out for someone else who might struggle for confidence and be swapped out for someone else who might struggle for confidence.

      The club and fans just need to back the players through thick and thin. That is the only way the club can return to the top.

        1. The fact that so many people on here can’t comprehend my reasons is exactly why so many people on here haven’t got a club about what supporting a team from the city of Milan in Italy actually entails.

          They might have been your favourite team in Football Manager but that doesn’t make you a fan.

          1. “They might have been your favourite team in Football Manager but that doesn’t make you a fan.”

            LOL!!! So in other words people born or living away from Milan cannot be as GREAT Milan-fans as you just because you live there. It’s not like people made the decision to get born in another country.

            I have traveled several thousand kilometers to go watch Milan play at San Siro. Will continue to do so until I die. Don’t come here and bash other just because you happened to get born there and others didn’t.

      1. I’ve defended Leao for years, but he looks a shadow of his former self. It’s better to cash in before his value drops further. I don’t care about Pulisic. He had 2.5 good seasons and now his injury problems are back. We need explosive players to take the next step.

      2. I don’t normally agree with you but as stated this is spot on. Confidence is everything and on that note I hope Leao is in the same boat. Seeing over two in the back of the net can change everything. Well said sir!

  21. Pulisic was awful. The lack of control on a counter when he only had one man to beat summed up this year.

    Gimenez’ poor control also gave away the ball on one ocassion. Obviously his confidence is shot.

    I hope both of them leave. Orsolini should have been signed years ago.

    They better hope someone comes in for Leao. He looks cooked.

    1. You are so full of it! Puli has more ball control than most everyone out there. If your “unbiased” player critiques only focus on one bad play instead of a player’s overall performance, no one would be good enough for you. Nobody’s perfect… and that includes you…so I’ll disregard this unfounded opinion.

      1. There’s a reason Pulisic hasn’t scored this year, this is his level of performance and no, he didn’t have more ball control than most. Rabiot, Modric, Leao and Saelemakers showed better control yesterday.

  22. So must negativity after a win. After a win that put the team 2nd. After a win that gets the club that much closer to Champions League.

    I don’t understand why people do a hobby they clearly aren’t enjoying.

    You don’t like the manager, the players, the style of football, the country (most of you seem to despise Italian footballers)…..so why keep going?

    Unless there’s a bunch of Inter fans on here (other than that weird Inter Fan who is actually one of the most respectful), what are you doing on here with your constant negativity and endless demands for change?

    If there’s a player you really want Milan to sign why don’t you just cut out the middle man and go support the team with that player?

    It’s like if I really like Whoppers I wouldn’t got McDonalds and demand they start selling Whoppers. I’d just go to Burger King.

    Go to Burger King.

    Forget about brand loyalty. Nobody will judge you. It’s not like there’s much to stick around for at Milan.

    1. Not everyone can just switch teams when it’s not going well like you last year.

      Delighted we’re second and with the season overall. Really worried about form and have been watching football long enough and understand it well enough to see where we might struggle on the run in.

      It appears you only see results and honestly I envy the ignorance, but new hobby for me? No thanks, I’ll suffer through some bad performances with the odd rant if that’s ok with you. How’s the kayaking in Como going or are you saving it till next season in case we’re awful under a new rushed-in manager again?

      1. Again didn’t switch teams because “it wasn’t going well”.

        Stopped supporting Milan because of the treatment of multiple players and legends.

        Success and failure have absolutely nothing to do with it.

        But none of you understand. None of you seem to have the faintest idea what supporting an actual team (as opposed to a brand) entails.

        1. No how could we possibly have any idea when you apparently have a monopoly on ALL the understanding of how fan culture works? There’s simply no understanding left for the rest of us 😢.

          “Stopped supporting Milan because of the treatment of multiple players and legends.”

          Oh, but now you’re back? I must have missed the news where Maldini and Boban got an apology from Gerry (who, by the way, I am constantly scathing towards). I only saw the news about us being second in the league, but no, I guess that hasn’t had any impact on you suddenly resurfacing.

          But dude, if you want to believe that you’re the only Milan fan on the site who isn’t on some weird bandwagon, and your romanticised, frankly delusional version of what Calcio used to be like back when you were the only person in the stadium, is beyond anyone else’s grasp, that’s fine – whatever helps you sleep at night.

        2. ” None of you seem to have the faintest idea what supporting an actual team (as opposed to a brand) entails.”

          FFS!!!! JUST STOP IT ALREADY!!! I’ve never seen a bigger hypocrite in my life. You are nothing but a big fng pathetic joke. Every post by you is all about bashing the other while touting your superiority. And all that sh1t after turning your back to the team to go and support Como. Absolutely ridiculous. 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

  23. Gabbia is back!

    The constant communication, reading of the game, leadership, and love of defending is just something that is so uniquely Italian.

    You cannot buy that.

    People criticise Bartesaghi for (not sure what) but he again shows something uniquely Italian in his defending and his approach.

    He’s a defender’s defender. In attack he moves the ball quicker, puts in early crosses, and makes direct runs. It doesn’t always work. But this isn’t a computer game.

    Leao’s assist seemed to give him a boost in confidence. Pulisic needs something similar. If they can score their confidence will come back.

    It was a solid win. There is not a lot more one can ask for at this time of the season. And it was a very Italian game.

    If you don’t like it…..

  24. There aren’t a lot of positives to take from this game. It was an expectedly ugly watch. Our offense continues to run on prayers which Rabiot luckily answered today. This is unfortunately the only solution at Max’s disposal. Gonna have to keep the bar low the rest of the season.

    The team looks tired, sluggish. Partially running out of steam towards the end of the season, and likely partially overly cautious after the Udinese defeat. They also look very psychologically frail. I hope they recover physically and mentally well enough to face Juve.

    Player ratings don’t really mean anything at this point – the team has to collectively tough it out for the remaining games to stay Top4. The sad part is that even at that point we have ZERO guarantees that our management will upgrade and improve this team competently and sufficiently.

    1. The one thing that may become a guarantee of a sensible upgrade during the transfer window, is that Allegri has signaled to management that he will only stay if he is given more leeway in deciding what players to hire, and apparently he wants at least a real striker and an experienced center back; he also apparently doesn’t want Nkunku (never did) or Füllkrug.

      Assuming that we will make top 4 (not guaranteed given what you said and what I also think, that this team is falling apart and barely beat – by the minimum score – the worst team of the league; but 8 points ahead with five games to go is significant), this could mean that Allegri will get his way, as a reward for what management sees as the real goal, that is, making Champions League money.

      As for player ratings, you often speak against doing it. My take on it is that this thread of player ratings is fun. It’s a way to be entertained, after still a dreadful display, which has been the rule rather than the exception. Given that during the games we aren’t very entertained by this squad, at least we have some fun debating player ratings, regardless of them being meaningful or not.

  25. I saw last night match against Verona, and we play so bad I think.

    Credit only to Gabbia and Rabiot, and also Modric.

    I don’t know what tactics we used last night. No fast counter attack, no ball posession in the middle, lots of unfinished dribbling, and no pressing.

    I think that is something wrong with Allegri’s tactic.

  26. Milan loses everyone complains, Milan wins everyone complains. 3 much needed pts. Btw the ratings are way off once again!

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