It is the most delicate moment in Milan's season so far, defeated in La Spezia. An unexpected stop for Pioli's team, overtaken by Inter at the top just 7 days before the Derby della Madonnina. Now, Europa League is back too: an extra wild card in favour of the Nerazzurri who remained (despite themselves) spectators in the competition.
Stefano Pioli doesn't hide : "We didn't expect it, my choices and the performances of the players went badly. We have to react and we will do it."
But, from the beginning of 2021, Milan no longer seem the same. Comparing the data of the first days of 2020 with those of this year, the average points dropped from 2.4 to 1.8 and the goals scored also decreased (one every 39 minutes in 2020, one every 50 hours).
Certainly not the goals of Ibrahimovic, who remained alone at the Alberto Picco stadium against Spezia. The Rossoneri midfielders were also not effective, with the exception of Kessié. The department is in difficulty: the lack of brilliance of Calhanoglu, Saelemaekers and Castillejo denotes a form to be found right in a key period of the season.
Another figure illustrates the situation of Milan: a team that struggles to react in situations of disadvantage. The comeback chapter can be analyzed through 6 key games, three on each side between 2020 and 2021.
In the first round, the Rossoneri snatched a point at home against Verona and Parma (both ahead 2-0 and reached in full recovery) in addition to Genoa, yet another 2-2 (but away) by responding to two goals from Mattia Destro.
The topic changes completely from January with three matches with a similar trend: all ended in defeat. On January 6, Davide Calabria responded to Chiesa, but Juve won the big match at San Siro 3-1.
Worse went against Atalanta and Spezia, no goals on the scoresheet or a reaction (both in the 0-3 suffered against the Bergamo side and in the 0-2 against Vincenzo Italiano's men.
It is not the character that is lacking in this Milan, but the legs: brilliance is needed but the stamina is also a crucial factor that help in the long-term race for the Scudetto.
source: acmilan.com
