Ante Rebic has not had the best last few months in terms of staying consistently fit, but he found a way to return to being decisive again in last night’s win over Hellas Verona.
After netting double figures in each of his first two seasons with the club Rebic managed just three goals last season, with two in the league and one in the Champions League, in just over 1,100 minutes on the pitch. Fitness was a problem last year for Rebic and this year things have not gone to plan either, but now he is back to good condition and showed it in Verona.
It took just 7 appearances and only 268 minutes overall on the field for Rebic to equal his goal tally from last season. Last year he scored in the Champions League at Anfield against Liverpool and then scored once against Juventus and another at Salernitana.
This year the No.12 started with a bang, scoring a brace in the first game of the league season against Udinese. After issues in his back that kept him out for a month, Rebic returned to Empoli and came on in the second half, immediately scoring his third goal of the season – which unlocked a complicated game – and provided the assist for the third Milan goal from Leao.
Last night he came off the bench and again set a goal up, this time for Sandro Tonali as he received the ball from Leao and threaded a perfectly weighted through ball to the midfield who had the simple task of sidefooting past Montipo.
While he might not be a candidate to start most games the feeling is that Rebic is a luxury reserve and he is showing it in these first two months of the season. Given the age of the squad and the turnover of players, he can be considered experienced player in Serie A who – except last season – has always guaranteed a good number of goals.
Moreover, he can guarantee a different solution compared to Giroud and Origi up front and can of course give Leao some rest too, and his assist last night came from the right wing which gives some food for thought.
He has high quality — unselfish and sometimes too much making passes when he should be more selfish and shoot; but he creates opportunities for the team with his hard work and pressing, as well as smart through balls or crosses. If he can just manage to stay healthy, he will help us win the Scudetto again.
He should be a definite starter. Knows where and when to pass (puts the right weight on the pass) and just enough for the attacking player to score. Even when he does not score, he is always assisting others and has a high percentage of shots on target (which Milan struggles with the other forwards).. In addition, he can play in 3 roles: LW, RW or striker/CF
Plus he works his ass off for the team every time. He presses, tackles and shows example to others. A true team player.