A masterful performance and an impressive display that was worthy of a man of the match award in his debut Champions League fixture: Malick Thiaw was the standout performer in AC Milan's unexpected triumph over the likes of Harry Kane and Son Heung-min, two world-class stars.
His aerial dominance, courage, and timely interceptions saw him emerge as an impenetrable fortress in the defensive line, earning rapturous applause from the San Siro faithful for every intervention.
While Thiaw's performance may have come as a surprise to many, Milan had been following his progress extensively before securing the Schalke 04 player's signature last summer. Despite two unsuccessful attempts to land the promising center-back during the summer of 2021 and the winter transfer window of 2022 due to exorbitant demands by the German outfit, the Rossoneri finally secured the deal for €6m plus €1m in bonuses, a shrewd acquisition with enormous potential on both the technical and economic fronts.
Indeed, Thiaw has now emerged as a serious contender to assume a leading role in the Milan defence rather than just being a mere alternative, and Stefano Pioli is well aware of his talents. The Milan coach has already envisaged how Thiaw can partner with Fikayo Tomori to form a defensive duo that represents the club's future.
