Alexis Saelemaekers has earned a reputation as somewhat of a talisman for AC Milan since his arrival a year ago given the team’s record with him on the field.
The stats really do not lie, because Saelemaekers has never lost a league game while on the field for Milan. This season, the Belgian has made 14 appearances, and in these matches Milan have won 11 times and drawn three. With him on the pitch came 36 points, including 32 goals scored and only 14 conceded.
Without Saelemaekers, Milan have played five games, amassing only seven points (two wins, a draw and two defeats). The team also scored seven goals and conceded eight.
Not only that, but the five most recent losses the Rossoneri have suffered have been without him, including the 4-2 defeat against Inter last season, the 2-1 loss to Genoa, the 3-0 battering from Lille in the Europa League, the 3-1 loss to Juventus two weeks ago and Saturday’s schooling from Atalanta.