AC Milan must do more soul-searching now another international break is upon us, with the inconsistency in results continuing.
Corriere dello Sport (via MilanNews) this morning describes Milan as a ‘two-faced team’, without grit and heart. The exciting evenings such as the derby win over Inter and beating Real Madrid at the Bernabeu are offset by frustrating dropped points against lower-ranking sides.
The numbers point towards Milan rightly being on the outside looking in when it comes to the Scudetto battle. The Rossoneri are last for fouls committed (117 in total in 11 games) and second-last for fouls per game (10.6, better only than Parma).
Not only that, but Milan are also last in Serie A for balls recovered (435 in total, Atalanta in first have 151 more) and third-last for balls recovered per game (39.55, better only than Torino who are in free fall and Genoa).
Paulo Fonseca’s side are last in Serie A for duels won (472 in total) and third-last for duels won per game (42.91, slightly better than Inter in second-last). To complete the ranking, Milan as second-last in the league for aerial duels won (420 in total) and for aerial duels won per game (10.91), better only than Juventus in both categories.
In the 3-3 draw with Cagliari on Saturday, Milan lost 69% of the aerial duels against Pavoletti and his team-mates. This allowed Davide Nicola’s side to utilise their best weapon which is crosses, and in the end that’s how they got a late draw through Zappa’s goal.
As during the last break, and the one before that, Milan are being asked to change their mentality to avoid the season being over before the calendar year ends. Fonseca and Alvaro Morata have on several occasions called players and team-mates to be more attentive, yet it hasn’t worked for long enough.
The paper adds: ‘Milan have continued its very fluctuating mood: if properly motivated, if focused, the team performs and the results come, otherwise it runs into bad situations’. The problem is that the leaders in the table are pulling away, while Milan search for consistency.
If they lose spot for UCL next year, coach must be changed and also many departures must be assigned
You know who were in the top 80th percentile for duels won including aerial duels…..sigh nevermind.
Enlighten us and a source please
At this point I think I think it’s clear Fonseca doesn’t have the squad he needs to play the way he wants. Unfortunately Pavolvic turned out to be a complete bust at this point. A little surprising as he seemed to be the one signing everyone thought was prudent (me included). Goes to show how transfers are never a guarantee. Bennacer being out is probably not helping things either as I think he’d do work in Fonseca’s midfield. At this time is where Fonseca must prove himself or I’ll return to my regret for not signing Conceicao. The team doesn’t have all the players to make a 4-2-3-1 work in the league. The team also can’t sit in the 5-3-2/4-4-2 he plays in the big more open games. I honestly think a 3-4-3 type formation might be well, Musa as the RM and Theo as the LM (get Theo out of defense) my cbs would be Gabbia, Thiaw, and Pavlovic (at least he’ll try to follow instructions and treat his teammates with respect unlike that c… Tomori). I think this structure gives Milan the ability to play with the ball and establish control (not in terms of straight possession but in flow and rhythm). We just don’t have good fullbacks, even though Emerson hasn’t been the weak link everyone said he’d be he’s not good enough to justify sticking with a 4 man line.
The one positive I take from Fonseca’s time is he’s not putting up with the bs the way Pioli did, at least from the outside looking in. Anyone notice Leao tracking last game. Hopefully Fonseca can get these guys working like they would during Pioli’s first season and a half