AC Milan were condemned to yet another defeat in what has been a miserable season so far, losing 2-1 to title-chasing Napoli on Sunday night.
As they so often have this season and especially under Sergio Conceicao, Milan gave themselves a mountain to climb when Matteo Politano and Romelu Lukaku put the home side in a commanding two-goal lead at half-time.
The reaction in the second half was a positive one, again continuing a theme, but Santiago Gimenez missed a penalty which would have really reopened the contest. Luka Jovic did get one back late on, but it wasn’t to be enough.
The player ratings
Starting with La Gazzetta dello Sport’s ratings, they gave Milan’s overall performance a 5.5 out of 10 and gave Conceicao’s management a 5. Rafael Leao (7) was the best player off the bench, while Strahinja Pavlovic (4.5) was the ‘flop’ in their eyes.
Matteo Gabbia, Warren Bondo, Christian Pulisic and Tammy Abraham all struggled, getting a 5, while Joao Felix and Gimenez got a mark less than that. Tijjani Reijnders (5.5) wasn’t his usual self and Kyle Walker got the same grade, but Luka Jovic (6.5) was praised.
Corriere dello Sport agree that Pavlovic was the biggest disappointment and gave him a 4.5, the same score and Felix. Gabbia, Bondo, Pulisic, Reijnders, Abraham and Gimenez received a 5. Leao and Jovic (both 6.5) were the only ones to receive above a passing grade.
La Repubblica meanwhile gave both Gabbia and Pavlovic a 5, as well as Abraham and Felix. Walker, Bondo and Fofana got half a point more. Theo Hernandez, Leao Chukwueze got a 6.5, with Jovic receiving a 7.
🔢 The player ratings for #NapoliMilan from @Gazzetta_it, @CorSport and @repubblica.
🤔 Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/qqMBf2iOpi
— SempreMilan (@SempreMilanCom) March 31, 2025
Only Milan “fans” keep writing Pavlovic nonsense. He is a Serie C defender with a lot of desire. But you need to have skill as well, not only want something. He doesn’t, he was lucky multiple times not to concede a penalty Or a red card and he was given ratings of 7, 7.5 or 8 in those games. Real Madrid is interested? Who else? City probably, they need someone with low iq in defence since Walker is leaving. He never had the iq, but legs.
“while Strahinja Pavlovic (4.5) was the ‘flop’ in their eyes.”
Finally a realistic score. He’s all physicality and stamina but no brains. He and Emerson let many goals in this season from their inability of reading the game and lack of positional awareness.
He is a defender that can’t defend. Has no clue what to do.
Because the algorithms/data/… whatever don’t display a player’s IQ and understanding of the game.
A taller, faster player with great stamina and who cover a lot of the pitch will always have better stats than one who is slower, less physically gifted even if the latter is more intelligent and has a better reading and understanding of the game.
So this is probably why, as of late we ended up with good athletes but sorry excuses of football players.