The AC Milan management made the decision not to make an investment in another central defender during the summer transfer window.
The terrible result in the derby has left a very sour taste, not just because of the scoreline but also due to the fact it was a fifth defeat in a row against Inter, and the rearguard was ruthlessly exposed.
Despite having won the first three matches in the league and showing plenty of positive signs, Milan have seen their momentum slashed after a humiliating loss that brought lots of old issues back to the surface.
Irreplaceables missing
As our colleagues at SempreMilan.it write, it was a defeat that highlighted a real and serious problem present in the Milan squad: the defensive department.
Pierre Kalulu’s injury and Fikayo Tomori’s suspension undoubtedly contributed to the issues, but Milan lined up with their most experienced central defender (Simon Kjaer) and an established starter (Malick Thiaw), both of whom struggled.
The signs were there
Yet the signs were already seen last season, not to mention in the preseason friendlies, where Milan immediately showed that they had yet to find a balance while covering spaces in transition, especially after the change of formation and the move to 4-3-3.
Last year (summer 2022) it was Maldini himself who glimpsed Milan’s weak point in that department, trying by all means to acquire central Sven Botman from Lille, who then moved to Newcastle. That money then went on Charles De Ketelaere.
Responsibilities of Furlani and Moncada
After Maldini’s dismissal, Giorgio Furlani and Geoffrey Moncada decided – in agreement with Pioli it must be said – to reinforce almost all the departments other than the defensive one by purchasing only Marco Pellegrino to replace Matteo Gabbia.
They believed that having Tomori, Thiaw, Kalulu and Kjaer plus Pellegrino or even Mattia Caldara as emergency options was enough for the season ahead, yet the first four have shown wobbly form for months.
The result is that Milan are leaking goals, and Inter scoring five risks being just the start of a season with more issues at the back. Now it is up to Pioli to take countermeasures by making the most of the minimum he has available.
