Ok, so a win is a win, right? I mean, they’re slowly working their way up the table in Champions League and might actually have a shot at a top 8 finish and a bye into the second round of the knockouts. So all good, right?…
Everything I just said is true and Milan are setting themselves up for a quality first outing in the reformatted Champions League group stage. But I doubt I’m the only one not exactly feeling great about the team and how they’re looking. In this game, many of the same themes from the season popped up again and it doesn’t seem like Milan is making progress correcting these issues, namely a very leaky defense.
The main culprit seems to be poor decision making and players being in the wrong position on the pitch. This combination of ill-advised shots and a team too far up the pitch gave Slovan Bratislava most of their chances in the game. I was blown away by how little distance there was between the lines at times when Milan was in the final third (the high camera angle at this stadium made it really easy to see more of the team movement within frame…I loved it). There were so many Milan players near the Slovan Bratislava 18 yard box that springing the counter was simple: just poke it out somewhere up the pitch and the Bratislava player had a decent chance to get to it. There’s a good argument to be made that the Slovakian side could’ve easily had 3-4 goals on the day with a little better luck.
One last thing as I circle back to the poor decision making. Chukwueze was the worst offender of this in the game but he was far from the only one to fire shot after shot from outside the box into a sea of Slovan Bratislava players. With how far up the pitch Milan was, firing those shots in those circumstances meant there was a good chance a massive ricochet would land favorably a few times in the game and spring a counter. It reminded me of Pavlovic’s ill-advised pass in the Liverpool game that sprung them for their third goal to ice the game. Milan’s position and situational awareness needs to improve or these types of conceded goals are going to keep happening.
On offense, Milan scored 3 goals for the third consecutive Champions League game. Scoring doesn’t seem to be a problem but I know I wasn’t the only one to see cross after cross to no one throughout the game. What gives, right?
At first I thought it was just Theo or Chukwueze blindly booting crosses in without much thought or care about where they were going. But then Pulisic did it. Reijnders too. Even Leão did it when he came in after halftime. I began noticing Milan rarely had players making runs into the box. Like everyone was hanging out either just inside or just outside the 18 yard box and kind of ball watching. This made for a weird combination where Milan’s backline was at times roughly 30 yards from goal but all the attackers were no closer than about 18 yards. Just a massive pile up of players. This also made defending much easier for Slovan Bratislava and allowed them to have the numbers going the other way whenever they won the ball back.
The good from the game was that Abraham played fantastic and both he and Morata are really good on the ball and should be used more during build up. I was generally happy with the starting lineup although I would’ve started Leão instead of Okafor. Oddly, I love how wide Okafor plays when he’s at LW. I wish Leão would do that. Pulisic continues to be Milan’s best finisher and Fofana is continuing to produce from the DM role, as he had another wonderful assist on Leão’s goal. So not everything is doom and gloom.
Still, I know I have trepidation about Milan continuing on this path and getting a good run of games in before the end of the calendar year. Milan face Empoli this weekend and I don’t know what Fonseca is going to do with the lineup or the tactics. He probably needs to land on a CB pairing so the team can start to gel defensively because as I just discussed, there’s too much confusion and poor decision making and just a lack of awareness of where teammates are and the roles they’re supposed to be in at any given time. I’m not holding my breath but I am crossing my fingers.
Now, ratings…
Player Ratings
Goal Keeping
MAIGNAN 6.5 – The defense is the main culprit on the day as Maignan was hung out to dry on pretty much every goal, even the one Pavlovic saved. Would have taken save of the year candidates to prevent both goals
Goal Keeping Overall 6.5
Defense
CALABRIA 6 – I don’t have anything negative. No, really. Sure, he was out of position at times and chasing the game but who wasn’t
TOMORI 6.5 – Considering some of the comments in the matchday post, I don’t think some of you would have given him a score this high but I blame the approach more than the player. Let me say more with Pavlovic’s rating…
PAVLOVIC 6.5 – Like Tomori, Pavlovic was hung out to dry by the tactics. I think blaming these CBs is easy but unfair when the whole team seemed to be out of position. That tells me the team isn’t being directed or coached well enough by Fonseca
HERNÁNDEZ 6 – Had some crosses to no one but so did a lot of other guys. Again, who should get the blame?…
Overall Defense 6.5
Midfield
FOFANA 7.5 – One of few players continuing to show improvement. His passing ability and vision was not something I was counting on when he came but I’m loving it. What a ball to Leão
REIJNDERS 6.5 – Another average game coming off the average showing vs Juventus. I’m not worried, just saying
Midfield Overall 7
Forwards
CHUKWUEZE 6.5 – Thought he was pretty wasteful, honestly. Ran into traffic a lot and kept firing dumb shots from outside the box
PULISIC 8 – Not as involved during buildup and wasn’t very central for chunks of the game. Not sure if that was intentional or not but it was odd for him. Still, was cool and calm on the finish for the first goal and he just continues to produce
OKAFOR 6 – Just didn’t do much and continues missing these opportunities to impress when he does play. Not sure how or when he’s going to break out of it because he’s better than what he’s been showing
ABRAHAM 9 MOTM – I LOVED his performance. Showed his skillset and intelligence throughout the game. The ball control and vision to spring Pulisic for the first goal, the smart dummy on Fofana’s ball to Leão which held the CBs just enough to let the ball get through and prevented them from catching up, and then the awareness to sneak and intercept the lazy Slovan Bratislava back pass and the solid finish to fire it past the incoming keeper. Well deserved goal
Forwards Overall 8
Subs
LEÃO 8 – Got the finish right this time and provided some spark when he came in. He’s got 3 goals and an assist in his last 4 games (Serie A and Champions League). Keep playing him and in the proper formation, Fonseca. He’s the best chance you have to save your job
ROYAL 6 – I didn’t really notice him. Is that good or bad?
LOFTUS-CHEEK 6 – More of the same (so adding nothing of value)
MUSAH 6.5 – Really good ball carrying in the middle of the pitch and is proving to be a nice backup to Fofana without any other DMs on the squad until Bennacer returns
CAMARDA NA – He played
Subs Overall 6.5
Coaching
FONSECA 5 – Offensively, the right players and right formation and that takes care of itself. Oddly, he has a hard time understanding this more times than not. But I don’t know why his tactics aren’t working defensively. Nobody seems to know where they’re supposed to be at any given time. We know Pioli played a high line to press the issue but Fonseca doesn’t always do that and yet there feels like there’s been just as many breakaway goals conceded.
As mentioned earlier in the post, running out the same CB pairing for a bit would likely help but it’s not everything because again, there’s lots of players seemingly out of position. With the first Coppa Italia game coming on Tuesday vs Sassuolo, I hope Fonseca plays the best possible lineup vs Empoli this weekend and again, continues with much of the same players so they can start to gel. Rotate vs Sassuolo and with where Milan is in the league table, who really cares about the Coppa (they should still win but really, who cares, right?)
Final Thoughts
Alright, that about sums up this post match. For those of you in the states, Happy Thanksgiving and all the best to you and your families (that last part goes to all of you, holiday or not). Milan play Saturday and Lisi will likely drop the Serie A Whip Around tomorrow. Until then…
Forza Milan
gillis
