AC Milan’s three-game winning run came screeching to a halt as they were beaten 2-1 by Fiorentina at the Stadio Artemio Franchi in a dramatic encounter that included three goals, three missed penalties and two red cards.
Fiorentina missed the chance to take the lead from the penalty spot when Mike Maignan saved Moise Kean’s spot kick after Theo Hernandez fouled Dodo, but then they did get the opener through the Milan loanee Yacine Adli with a fierce low shot.
Read SempreMilan ad-free and get access to exclusive news. Click here for a free trial!
The Rossoneri missed two penalties through Theo and Tammy Abraham, with David De Gea saving well despite the fact he should have been facing Christian Pulisic from 12 yards, something which has caused a lot of drama since.
Pulisic’s incredible volley made it 1-1 and it looked like Milan might push on to get all three points. However, Albert Gudmundsson would take advantage of a mistake from Fikayo Tomori inside the final 20 minutes to win all three points for La Viola.
It is a damaging result for Milan before the international break, and to make matters worse Theo – who gave away a penalty and missed one – was sent off at full-time for protesting to the referee. Below is Rohit Rajeev‘s tactical analysis…
Different marking systems
While Milan used a zonal marking system Fiorentina used a man-marking system and that was very evident in the way they played, even using a mid-block.
What Fiorentina tried to do was to clog the centre by overcrowding the middle of the pitch and taking risk of leaving less men at the back.
However, Milan moved the ball too slowly to take advantage of Fiorentina’s shakiness. One example is with how Theo Hernandez lost the ball and Milan had to recycle possession again.
— Rohit Rajeev (follow @keralista) (@keralista_v2) October 8, 2024
In the situation below the Rossoneri pressed extremely well, recovered the ball but no forward pass was made and Alvaro Morata’s wayward pass ended up behind Emerson Royal, so again the move went backwards. The one time Milan moved the ball quickly, it ended up getting them a penalty.
— Rohit Rajeev (follow @keralista) (@keralista_v2) October 8, 2024
Milan’s left side issues
One thing that a CBS commentator spoke about during the Parma game is how Rafael Leao never attacks the back post. Dodo is clearly out of position trying to mark Tammy Abraham and there is space for Leao to run into.
However the Portuguese winger stays put and the cross goes to waste, rather than being attacked with his size and speed. On the other hand you had Christian Pulisic attacking the space – not for the first time – and he was rewarded with a goal.
Fiorentina constantly attacked Theo Hernandez the entire game with 2v1’s knowing how weak the left side is, and even the touch map shows that it was indeed a targeted assault.
Moise Kean always played on the shoulder on the last defender, but Milan’s offside trap worked most of the time. However when Tomori made that individual error it worked for Fiorentina and they scored the decisive goal.
Set piece analysis
Milan conceded a goal from a throw-in and that came after a foul throw from Youssouf Fofana further up the field.
— Rohit Rajeev (follow @keralista) (@keralista_v2) October 8, 2024
Athletic data
What is worrying from a work rate standpoint is that Milan barely covered more than 100km in the game (the usual number is a fair bit higher) while Theo surprisingly didn’t end up in the top five for distance covered or average sprint speed.
Theo was very weak, even before the first penalty. He was the obvious flop. But Morata was almost equally bad, and Tammy close behind. I also wasn’t impressed by Fofana as everyone seemed to be.
the problem is that we play morata in a posision he is not familiar with put morata at top and try a different cam
Read that Liverpool are looking to sell Endo. That’s a CDM we can use. Theo has been trash because he probably wants to be on a bigger contract. But the left side has been abysmal for us.
Funny how much of a slating Emerson gets (and I’m not a fan), yet all our problems seemed to come down the left where our supposed best players play (and also our worst passers).. Theo, Leao and Tobermory Tomori.. probably time for a change
Also it would be interesting to see how much ground wonderboy covers in a match, but I guess that’s too embarrassing to reveal..
Erm the goals we conceded came down the right and through the middle, and the goal we scored came from a cross from Theo.
Can we stop this
#TheoLeaoOut
#LotsMoreTransfersToReplaceThemIn10YearsAfter20Attempts
#LetsDemandLoyaltyFromPlayersWhilstShowingNoneInReturn.
#MaldinisHairToPresident
#BringBackTheScudettoWinningLegendsSuchAsKrunic
#HateReijndersButClaimToSupportEveryone
#AllTheOtherFansAreIdiots
“Fiorentina constantly attacked Theo Hernandez the entire game with 2v1’s knowing how weak the left side is, and even the touch map shows that it was indeed a targeted assault.”
Well, well, if that’s doesn’t tell you something, I don’t know what will.
Mike Maignan to captain France NT.
Ibrahima Konate:
“Who will be the captain of the French national team?
I have two or three names that come to mind. Mike Maignan, me, Kounde or maybe Tchouameni. These are
the only mames that come to mind honestly”.
It must have slipped his mind the name of the best captain possible for the France NT, and Milan leader Theo Hernández.
“It must have slipped his mind the name of the best captain possible for the France NT, and Milan leader Theo Hernández.”
Only because of the f’ed up management and coaches of Milan. Theo is perfect but the the management has ruined him. 🙂
I never really understood the decision to appoint Theo as vice-captain.
One of my memory of recent years, is Theo on the ground while Tonali is defending him and yelling at Dumfries. How can then the former become a captain of the later.
Honestly, could Leo and Theo be behaving like this bc they want to be sold ASAP? They renewed under Maldini- could they want to leave bc he was fired, how he was fired, the direction of the project was changed ie: selling tonali, and the change in leadership at Milan?
That’s a legit set of circumstances that ppl dont seem to want to face
If they want to leave, I’d rather see them say it straight, tell the man and the management and give their all on the pitch, rather than pretending to be happy while giving crappy performances and behaviours.
Many (including myself) criticized Kessié for how he left, but he gave his all till the last game.
Leao is a man-child who is not going to change his game. You’ll rarely see him track back or race to the far post. He plays at Island Speed, marches to his own drum. In a box-to-box, open field match, when Milan is ahead and the opposition is overcommitted for a counter, there’s no one I’d rather see running 1v1 at the defense. The problem is…Milan has been tied or behind for most of the minutes. In a ‘half-field’ (riff on half-court in basketball) game with 10 men behind the ball, Leao disappears. Maddening but he is what he is.
We can’t even get a win with 2 penalty, last time we did that was against Bologna
Leao is a keeper.
We’re just too slow and indecisive in the back. More 2-touch. when the ball moves, that creates movement up the field.
“Leao is a keeper.”
So that’s why he has the same mileage as MM16 in every match. 🙂