GdS: The three main reasons behind Milan’s second crisis of 2023

By Oliver Fisher -

The defeat against Udinese yesterday has put several players under the microscope, while Rafael Leao’s goal drought also continued.

La Gazzetta dello Sport writes that there are three major factors behind the new crisis that Milan find themselves in, starting with the defensive errors the team keep on committing. The first goal last night came from Ismael Bennacer’s pass to Fikayo Tomori that was cut out before Pereyra netted.

In 2023 only Cremonese have conceded more goals than Milan (26 for them, 25 for Milan) but Ciofani and his side are fighting not to be relegated whereas the Rossoneri are in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

After a streak of three matches without conceding a goal, Milan had three put past them by Fiorentina and Udinese, the latter having not won at home since the end of September (3-1 against Inter).

The second reason is the drop in form that Rafael Leao has suffered. He shot twice on goal in a bright start yesterday but then seemed to drift away again, with his last goal coming on January 14 against Lecce.

The shadow of the contract renewal has been hovering over him for several months, with Maldini and Massara hoping to close the deal after the World Cup, but that didn’t happen. Leao seems to have returned to the player he was two seasons ago and he is certainly not smiling any more.

The third reason is the toothless attack, led by Zlatan Ibrahimovic at the Dacia Arena who scored a penalty but never seemed to have an understanding with Leao or Alexis Saelemaekers. Origi, Rebic and De Ketelaere came on but nobody shot, which essentially meant there was zero threat.

Tags AC Milan

15 Comments

  1. yeah, leao is the reason milan plays like shlt..
    Acctuly there is only one reason. Pioli and his inability to adapt.
    Its very sad to see such a fall of form from last season.. Was kessie really that important of a player? And if he was, why the fok did nobody realise it and pay the man.
    Apart from him and romagnoli the team is the same. Same!

    I guess we can always blame Tata for all the goals Mike is getting now…

    1. It is not same team. Kessie was best midfielder, and Alessio captain. This season Milan bring zero important players.

      Logic of thinking that young players can succeed on highest level like experience one is false logic . Owner wants control the money so results are second.

  2. This team no longer create’s intelligent attacking moves involving more then 2 or more players instead we are now predictable and easy to read relying on physical abilities alone.. last season and the one before we played good football ! now we are stretched, caught out and ponderous…. Adli & De ketelaere could have helped our game had they been integrated or at least playing a 3 man midfield but Pioli has discarded the desire to control the midfield and instead goes for physical power play that relies on Theo & Leao.

    1. “This team no longer create’s intelligent attacking moves involving more then 2 or more players”

      No longer? WTF? When have they (supposedly) ever done that? You must be confusing them with some other team as they have NEVER been creative/intelligent in attack.

  3. mister … the legendary milan squad, there is playmaker role. rui costa, kaka, seedorf, boban. that squad win everythings.

    i guess we only need a playmaker who can hold the ball and distribution the ball to attacker. switch brahim to adli or bennacer on that position. brahim too sloppy for italian football, hes winger. so the double pivot it can be krunic and tonali. trust me, milan can win..

  4. You have 2 top players in the team, and the most important one is not being respected and his contract negotiations are ongoing for 2 years now. He isn’t playing even close to last season and that is the reason, Leao should have been sold or paid what he asked before this season…realistically Milan would be 3rd or 4th last season without Leao…You can see how it looks this season, almost without him, Udinese has a better attack when you remove Leao from Milan…

    1. So what you’re saying is when you have a CONTRACT you only play well for two years and demand to be paid more before the end of that contract or else you sabotage your employer? Just to be clear.

    2. Milan was dominated by udinese. Remind me how man top players do they have? And salernitana before that. And fiorentina before that.. Remind me please

      1. Exactly. It’s the attitude of the players that counts. If you don’t want to win matches you don’t win them. When money is all you think about it really shows…

        Start playing for the team and that will get the results wanted. Just look at Udinese. They didn’t have better individuals but played as a team with a common goal: to win as a team.

  5. It’s not just about leao’s poor form folks. He is only one man, there 10 more in the field. Problem #1 is that midfield. Midfield is what gives defense cover or break out attacks and provides for forwards. At the moment thats not working. Problem #2 is the static play of the whole team. No movement off the ball. As if managment tells the guys that they are top class now because the won scudetto and slow the play. Whatever that issue is pioli and compa y gotta make these guys enjoy football again. Fix these 2 issues and the team will definitely make it top 4. Than in the summer many gotta go.

    1. Might add that they should really look for a top class or great quality midfielder in the summer and keep ben and tonali as back up to each other.

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