One of the most important signs AC Milan got from the defeat against Liverpool yesterday was how encouraging the performance of Alexis Saelemaekers was.
As reported this morning by Tuttosport (via MilanNews), Milan had been without Saelemaekers for the two friendlies played so far this winter, against Lumezzane at Milanello and then against Arsenal in Dubai on Tuesday.
In fact, we had not seen Saelemaekers on the field in any game since 1 October when during the 3-1 win against Empoli the Rossoneri lost the Belgian winger to injury in addition to captain Davide Calabria.
The former Anderlecht man was kept out by a knee issue which also prevented him from participating in the World Cup in Qatar, instead being part of the reserve list, so to have him back on the pitch and scoring goals like the one against Liverpool yesterday is a big boost for Stefano Pioli.
Pioli had to resort to imaginative solutions for the right wing role in the build up to the break because Junior Messias was not in the best condition either, so Saelemaekers recovery is tactically important as well as numerically.
Pioli hopes that the recovery of Saelemaekers is just the first in a long series from now to the match against Salernitana on January 4. Origi (muscle problem), Tomori and Diaz (workload management) and De Ketelaere (just returned from post-World Cup holidays) were left out of the game yesterday, while Calabria, Florenzi, Ibrahimovic and Maignan are all to come back.
This may be seen as a positive post. But I see it the opposite way. If all we have to look forward to is….. Saelemaekers…. then we are screwed.
You’re free to watch and support other clubs if you can’t stomach the idea of watching young players grown and flourish into a solid player.
And some people think that a player with no real prospects of coming a superstar can turn into a messi just because he’s young and gets playing time on the field.
Saelemaekers won’t turn into Messi – or even C.Ronaldo. That’s for sure. He won’t turn into a +10 goals / season type of winger either. Sure he has room for improvements and probably will also get better but you gotta be realistic too though.
He is realistic though – he said young player develop into a solid player – not best/superstars. We can’t hope for that anyway.
Any player we can buy right now also won’t be immediate superstars/next Messi or Ronaldo, too.
In all honesty, no one expect him to be the next Messi/Ronaldo, but at least Saelemakers will give cover for right wing and some flair – don’t forget he gave us some goals. If he can be more consistent he is a real asset for us.
True.
Maybe I should have been more clear that I wasn’t suggesting ForzaMilan was the one expecting him to turn into Messi etc.
Hey bb are you blind? I said a “SOLID” player, NOT superstar like Messi or Ronaldo.
Please fix your eyes and brain before commenting again. Dumbass.