AC Milan have struggled with keeping clean sheets this season and the defensive issues became evident in the 1-2 defeat to Napoli. A player with the characteristics of Frank Kessie is missing, a report highlights.
The Ivorian midfielder left the Rossoneri on a free transfer this past summer, opting to continue his career at Barcelona. While Sandro Tonali and Ismael Bennacer have done well, it’s clear that Kessie’s exit has left a hole in the squad.
As highlighted by Tuttosport (via MilanNews), Kessie gave a great balance to the defence even if he wasn’t always that involved in the attack. He used to be a centre-back and also protected the centre-backs as much as he could.
Milan brought in Aster Vranckx towards the end of the mercato and the feeling is that Tonali, along with Pobega, will be the more ‘defensive’ midfielders. In any case, it will be interesting to see Pioli’s solution for the defensive issues.
Kessie was a great player for Milan but now there is another format which I consider need a quick decisive striker . Giroud should understand game straight away . Milan lost because of Giroud not of Kessie.
I don’t buy this story about kessie, to hell with him and we don’t miss him, l believe he was the one missing ac milan for sure, how many minute was he playing there so who miss who then?
Grow up. All these childish little fanboys who think everyone who doesn’t take less money then they can get elsewhere to stay at Milan sucks. No. Kessie was a huge part of this team. The guy bossed the midfield, played just about every minute of every game, never got tired, never got injured. Milan did a terrible job in negotiations with him, and an even worse job replacing him. It was foolish of management and the fanboys on here to think that Milan could lose a player as important as him, not replace him with someone of equal value, and still be as strong. He is sorely missed.
Well said @K
The fact that Milan has been conceding plenty of goals from preseason until now has nothing to do with the defensive capabilities of our present midfielders or Kessie’s absence.
Pioli has decidedly chose to play the team much higher and more compact this season, and so, the players need more time to adjust to the changes. If you’ve watched the goals we’ve conceded, with most, it’s almost as if there’s too many players around the ball on the defensive phase of the game, which seems to cause some confusion as to who is picking who.
Exactly
Indeed. Kessie on the pitch wouldn’t have made ANY difference in any of the conceded goals. Just forget about him – he’s a Barca player now.
He is the missing piece. I knew they would have a hard time replacing him. Wish we could of kept him. You can’t find guys like him everywhere, they do not grow on trees.
Bennacer is a good player, but he cannot do what Kessie did.
Kessie is what is missing this year, darn!!
characteristics of Frank Kessie is Amabrat of fierotina
Milan had a chance to sign Anguissa last summer when he was leaving Fulham, but instead Maldini chose to bring back Bakayoko.
Bakayoko from Chelsea to Milan on a 2 year loan with 20 mil purchase option
Anguissa from Fulham to Napoli on a 1 year loan with 15 mil purchase option
Anguissa would have been a perfect replacement for Kessie
Most of the goals we getting is because of stupid personal mistakes (dest just the last man) more concentration on defense will help much more then another midfield (and with bennacer recent games i doubt kassie would have been a starter)