I still hate the Coppa but that was fun! All of the available new guys got a run out and most importantly, key players got some rest and there were no injuries. Oh, and Milan won pretty handedly and looked good and dangerous.
So, what does this mean in the grand scheme of things? I mean it was still a Coppa Italia match. Let’s talk about it.
Conceição decided to field a much stronger team than I would have for this Coppa Italia matchup, but he did rest Leão and moved Pulisic to LW and started Jimenez at RW. Obviously that still left plenty of quality on the pitch as most of the regulars started. The most important factor and something that we should all keep in mind was that Roma came to play football. They didn’t sit back and play conservatively and they certainly didn’t park the bus. Milan thrives in this type of game and getting reinforcements or not didn’t really matter.
Still, it was refreshing to see a team locked in, moving the ball well, and generating solid build up and a few early chances. The 17th minute breakthrough wasn’t too surprising then when after a nice outside shot from Reijnders forced as save that Theo corralled and then found Abraham for a beautiful header. The same pair found each other again before the half on a nice counter.
Roma would trim the lead on a deflected cross that found Dovbyk, that coming after a little bit of a scramble after Milan lost possession. Pavlovic had been tracking someone, left his area, Reijnders and Fofana were both there but were heading back towards the front of the box where they would normally be when organized, and Theo was stuck between guarding the true far post and just to the inside where Dovbyk found room. The real kicker though was the deflected cross, which generated a funky looping ball flight that dropped in just right, a flight a normal cross or lofted ball would never take.
This goal was more of the same for Milan. Yes, Milan could’ve scrambled better and located the more dangerous players in the more dangerous positions, faster. But it also feels like another odd, fluky goal that Milan has been snake-bitten by multiple times this season.
The bad luck notwithstanding, the thing I think everyone was most excited about was seeing the new toys on the pitch and man the evidence is there that these guys might make a real difference. I mean, we’ve already seen over a couple of games how much stronger the RB position is with Kyle Walker in it.
Shortly after the Dovbyk goal, João Felix and Santiago Giménez made their club debuts. I hadn’t really seen the players play before, as I hadn’t followed either and I don’t watch YouTube hype videos, but João Felix’s talent immediately stood out. I hadn’t seen a Milan player with the deft touch and coolness on the ball since Brahim. They’re different kinds of ball handlers but the ball seems like it’s an extension of them and they don’t labor to keep it and move it around. Some of you in the chat compared him to Kaka. They definitely look similar but I’m going to need to see more before I’m willing to go that far. But the kid is talented and maybe just what Milan needed to solve their CAM problem.
As for his impact, well he scored on a well-timed run and calmly and coolly chipped it over the keeper from just in front of the penalty spot. Top class. He played between the spaces really well and just seemed to navigate and find dangerous places to be on the pitch.
One last thing: I noticed him hand-gesturing at times, trying to get teammates to move into specific areas. I LOVED this. We saw Pulisic do that on the winning goal against Inter in the Supercoppa and it seems like we’re going to have another guy out there helping orchestrate the team. It’s a rare skill, guys being able to see and anticipate and manipulate space. And it’s going to make everyone better.
As for the other big debutant, Giménez , well he just happened to be the one to feed the beautiful through ball to Felix for the goal. Giménez did the same thing a few minutes earlier to find Jimenez who scored but was marked just offsides. I was happy Morata and Abraham were brought in because both are solid in hold up play and helping in build up and it appears Giménez has that in his game too.
Giménez also displayed a great first touch, which I’m sure is one of the reasons he’s been prolific these last few seasons, yes in the Eredivisie but it also in Champions League, so expectations are high it’ll carry over and rightfully so. A first touch sets up your shot in most cases and having a great one means you’ve upped your chances to strike the ball well both in power and direction. We’ll need to see more, obviously, including those shooting boots, but positive signs nonetheless.
Overall, it was a positive performance that followed the positive performance against Inter and things may finally be looking up.
Player Ratings
Goal Keeping
MAIGNAN 7.5 – I mentioned what happened on Roma’s goal, so not much he could do. He did have an odd spill that went through his hands and hit the crossbar. But he continues to be solid stopping shots and of course his distribution game was on point in this as well.
Goal Keeping Overall 7.5
Defense
WALKER 7 – Can we keep him?!
TOMORI 8 – Stellar. Again.
PAVLOVIC 7.5 – Since I like one of my CBs with Tomori’s characteristics (Conceição appears to be prefer it too), and we only have one, Gabbia and Thiaw will need to beat Pavlovic out for minutes. I don’t think they’re going to. At least not right now.
HERNÁNDEZ 8.5 – Has 5 g/a in 10 games under Conceição, had 5 g/a in 21 games under Fonseca. Just saying.
Overall Defense 8
Midfield
MUSAH 7 – Back to back nice outings for Musah after the red vs Dinamo. I’m slowly forgiving…
FOFANA 7.5 – Nice having the sheriff back in the midfield. As mentioned at the beginning, seemed to have gotten lost in the scramble on Roma’s goal but a lot of players did. Something for everyone to clean up but not a negative mark on Fofana.
REIJNDERS 7 – Solid game. Wasn’t needed as much close to goal and did well to build and help create opportunities.
Midfield Overall 7
Forwards
JIMENEZ 7 – Seemed more at ease when he started at LB and LW during the injury crisis, but he’s finding that ease again in his more natural RW/RM/RB position. Damn near had his first goal in the top flight but was a smidge offsides.
ABRAHAM 8.5 – After a little stretch of inconsistency aside from the winner against Inter in the Supercoppa, he was very on point in this game as evidenced by the brace. His header was a hell of an effort as his timing had to be perfect to reach it but more importantly, get enough on it to find the side netting. Tammy is continuing to produce at a nice clip and will continue to help this team win. Happy he’s here.
PULISIC 7 – Solid game.
Forwards Overall 7.5
Subs
FELIX 7.5 – Can we keep him, too?!
GIMENEZ 7 – Likely he’ll get his first full run out this weekend. I hope dominates.
LEÃO 6.5 – Came on and did Leão things. I can’t wait to see him cooking with quality up and down the front line.
SOTTIL NA – Lisi’s McDreamy got his first run out in the dying minutes. I’m sure we’ll see him wrap up a lot of games. What does this mean for Chukwueze?…
Subs Overall 7
Coaching
CONCEIÇÃO 7 – I would’ve given him an 8 but I wanted him to rest a couple more guys, specifically Theo and Pulisic. Pulisic got some rest getting subbed off early but Theo played the whole game again. Which leads me to the other thing I didn’t like…an unused sub! I know his subbing wasn’t perfect last time out but after the Felix goal, use up that last sub and bring out Bartesaghi for Theo. I want Theo rested but I also want to see Bartesaghi! Kid has some promise.
Ok, enough bitching. Despite starting more of the regulars than I would’ve (maybe management told him he has to try and win the Coppa Italia for the extra money after the winter splurge?), the game plan was excellent and the subs and shifting formation were as well. You know the 4-3-3 isn’t my favorite formation especially if Leão is playing, but he wasn’t and everyone seemed to know what Conceição wanted and it didn’t stifle anyone’s skillsets. But when he brought on Leão and Felix he switched to the 4-2-3-1 and we all saw how these two but also everyone else slotted in and continued to be dangerous. This has a chance be really fun you guys…
Final Thoughts
As we close out, I’m going to restate something I said in the comment section of the matchday post, as I feel it summarizes things well for me:
What will likely end up being Milan’s strongest lineup has seen an upgrade in quality. That’s very clear. But I think the biggest improvement, where the club improved the most, is with the depth. It will no longer be just a catastrophic downgrade from our best players to their substitutes/replacements.
At Empoli on Saturday at 12pm EST. Let’s start clawing our way to 4th in the league.
Forza Milan
gillis
