GdS: Rabiot the only quality – how Milan secured a big three points in Verona

AC Milan took a big step towards securing Champions League qualification with a 1-0 win against Hellas Verona on Sunday.

La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) write that Milan did what they had to do: they won against a Verona side that are struggling and regained second place from Napoli, albeit on goal difference. It was not a memorable game, but the result is what matters.

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With fifth place eight points away, it was a big step towards a top four finish. If anything, matches like this can provide insights for the future: which players to continue with, which ties to cut and how to establish a playing philosophy.

The present suggests that even the direct clash with fourth-placed Juventus on Sunday will not be a do-or-die affair, but rather a matter of managing the lead built up.

Just getting by

When Allegri – who has scheduled the raduno for July 12th – brings his wish list to his directors, the word ‘unsellable’ will be written in capital letters next to Adrien Rabiot’s name.

The Frenchman arrived almost by chance last summer, and he was symbolic of the afternoon in Verona in many ways. He slipped and stumbled in the first half but was capable of providing one moment, and that is all it took.

This season has shown that on more than one occasion against bottom-half teams, Milan had then deluded themselves into believing a certain superiority, failing to translate it into points and into victories.

This time, Rabiot seized a moment just before half-time, and Milan were content. They weren’t pressing beforehand, let alone pushing afterward, with the risk of exposing themselves at the other end of the field.

In the end, Verona appeared to be dominating from a territorial standpoint, with a higher average line. It is one of the clearest photographs of the match, carved into Milan’s eighth 1-0 win in the league, their 13th one-goal win of the season.

Turning point comes

After all, in minimalist football where everything is slow, lacking in desire and without vertical movement, one move is enough to take the lead and then control the game.

Milan didn’t create a masterpiece: they simply won the header duel on Montipò’s clearance (Athekame) and took advantage of an open Verona, ready to attack, without even considering closing in on the ball.

Rabiot then had space in midfield to pass vertically to Leao, who returned the pass past Edmundsson’s attempted slide tackle, with the Frenchman well clear of Akpa Akpro who stopped chasing him.

Rabiot, scoring his sixth goal for Milan, showed a desire that had been lacking from the others. He earned a few fouls, drew a yellow card from Akpa Akpro and had the only two shots on target in the first half.

Despite the 48 points between the two teams, the difference between Milan and Verona is most noticeable in making the most of the afternoon’s only chance. While the Frenchman produced the quality for the winner, Maignan did so at the other end to deny Belghali.

The moves

It’s a different Milan than the one they drew against Udinese, with the return to a 3-5-2 and the return of Gabbia to the back line, with the Italian having been out for two months. He played an excellent game, including a great stop to deny Orban.

If it were just a matter of tactical system, Allegri would be happy. He would have unraveled the mess, but he knows full well that’s not the case. Three defeats in the last four games had diminished his confidence and increased doubts about his proper management of the final part of the season.

Milan still count on their veterans, like Maignan and Modric. When you see the Croatian celebrating in the final minutes after stopping a dangerous run from Orban, it’s clear that at least part of the dressing room knows how to focus on the immediate goal.

The attack, on the other hand, did very little. Leao provided the assist but was subdued again, and unhappy with his substitution again. Pulisic wandered around without providing any excitement, Gimenez didn’t do much when he came on, while Athekame and Bartesaghi combined errors and laziness.

With Saelemaekers, the right wing was at least livened up. Hellas, joint-bottom and heading towards Serie B, suffered their fifth consecutive defeat. Under Sammarco, they have collected four points in ten games, but they must settle for what was a performance largely on par with the team in second.

The coach’s move to use Belghali as second striker, with Bernede further back, worked in moments. But it demonstrates what Verona has lacked this season: viciousness, determination, composure, and quality.