In recent months, AC Milan have seen the criticism towards Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic become louder than ever. Unfortunately, it is difficult to imagine it stopping currently.
Leao and Pulisic are faced with a few issues. As the stars, they are expected to be consistent threats, thanks to the standards that they have set in recent years. Then, as forwards, they must be decisive in games by scoring or creating goals.
The game against Juventus was the latest occasion where both didn’t deliver.
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Trouble in Milan
It is truly difficult to assess performances from Leao and Pulisic currently. On the one hand, both are clearly in need or greater support from somewhere, whether it be a third prong for the attack or more from midfield.
However, it is undeniable that they are not creating enough. Two players that have carried Milan on their backs in recent years look unable to carry the ball regularly, let alone an entire club.
As Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) wrote this morning, Massimiliano Allegri ‘waited in vain’ to see his forwards change the game. Yet, neither was able to. The Portuguese was accused of a ‘lack of incisiveness’, and a generally sluggish game.
With Pulisic, there was no hiding either. He went another game without a goal, with Allegri calling him ‘sensitive’ post game. It was a tough one for both of them.
Considering Leao was jeered off the pitch, again, things are probably the most negative they have ever been where the pair are concerned. Far from ideal.
Feels to me like the fans are booing because the football is horrendous in general
Yep, the football doesn’t support attack. I just feel sorry for Pulicis because he works hard and noting to show for it. Mostly on the ball, he is isolated.
Exactly. Nothing to celebrate with the most awful and boring football in Europe.
“Two players that have carried Milan on their backs in recent years look unable to carry the ball regularly, let alone an entire club.”
Well… It’s a team sport with 11 men on the pitch. I noticed a few good runs by Pulisic & Leao where they did their part by keeping possession and getting forward just to notice they were all alone in the attacking zone and the 2nd wave coming half a pitch further back. Are they REALLY supposed to do EVERYTHING by themselves? It’s ridiculous!
The other players should be feeding them and not the vice versa. When that duo was playing as wingers it was fine. It was their job to feed others. Who’s feeding them now when they’re inside the penalty box? No one. Absolutely ridiculous. (And the same applies to the comments-functionality on this site. I’m not writing too fast and my posts still get lost!)
The reality is: in a 3-5-2, Leão and Pulišić cannot play together. This system requires a pure striker which none of them is, so that means that one of them has to be benched. Füllkrug and Giménez, while being pure strikers, are absolutely horrendous and cannot be trusted either.
Also in the midfield, while Fofana’s through balls are sometimes marvellous, we need a midfielder who can make good decisions on a consistent basis and can link up/support the attack better.
So we’re back again at needing to make important decisions for the summer.
you got it. I honestly thought Rafa-Puli would work out. But that is why i’m not the coach. In FIFA it works tremendously lol. It is the headache everyone has talked about it for a while, Rafa and Puli are arguably our 2 most talented players but they need a striker to feed from and taking out a midfielder to accommodate that exposes our backline (as it did with the 4-3-3). Until we guarantee UCL, bench either one and put Santi or Fulkrug in. Santi and Puli did good at the beginning of the season no? LEt’s just get UCL in the bag and then try any possible combination.
Indeed. And let’s not forget that earlier this season when Pulisic & Leao were actually performing (and boy, was Pulisic great back then!!!) they hardly ever played WITH each other! When Pulisic was the hottest player in the league (or maybe even Europe) Leao was injured. And when Leao was scoring, Pulisic was out.
NOT a coincidence. They can obviously play together but not as a striker pair. H3ck no!!!
Decide which one you’re keeping and bench the other one to sell. The reality is it doesn’t matter who plays up front. I also don’t want Pulisic running himself into the ground with the WC coming up. He had bursitis which is an injury caused by overuse. Running 10-11 Km a game did it. Both will not stay with Allegri.
“Both will not stay with Allegri.”
Both or neither I’m afraid. Leao has had enough with the boos/fans. Pulisic with Allegri’s (lack of) tactics. I do hope and pray Puli stays as he was stellar when he was playing with an actual striker.
It’s shocking to me that all these supposed football experts don’t see what you’ve written. Allegri is all about the counter attack; getting one or two players going against an unbalanced defense. Well, with lower teams that sit back or like Juve who played it safe this ain’t happening. His switch to the 4–3- 3 for one game was a joke. He played Rafa as a #9 and left his wingbacks back in defense. Allegri will always be Allegri. Luckily my Paramount+ subscription ends this month so I will no longer be paying to watch this crap and ruin a nice afternoon. I can just check the box score if I want to ruin less of my day.
Bart 2 goals no assist
Salad 2 goals (none since November) 3 assists
if you want to play wing backs instead of wingers…they need to add to the offense. Demarco has 22 goal actions this year lone. Dumfries has barely played and he has 7.
This is the problem. But go ahead sell Pulisic and Leao. Bring in Lewandowski…who absolutely needs service. Who is going to pass to him? That should solve all the problems.
Allegri needs to defend his attackers because he has put them in an awful situation.
“But go ahead sell Pulisic and Leao. Bring in Lewandowski…who absolutely needs service. Who is going to pass to him?”
This. Spot on. The only ones able to create are playing as the striker pair. How’s that working out for them and the whole team? Exactly.