Milan wins 1-0 against Hellas Verona: On paper, that might be enough
The Rossoneri team desperately needed three points in the Serie A standings, and they got them. Looking beyond the final score, however, the team’s performance was largely underwhelming. Given the expectations—especially in terms of mentality after Rotterdam—Milan was expected to show more.
Milan's slow progress
Today, Corriere della Sera commented on the match with the headline emphasizing that Milan is moving forward slowly in its race for a Champions League spot. The main takeaway? The only good thing for Milan was the result. After a poor showing against Feyenoord, the team’s response on the pitch in the first half was dreadful—lacking energy and creating just one real chance, which Musah squandered in the final minutes. The (deserved) boos from the stands at halftime reflected the frustration. In the second half, Milan improved—without being spectacular—and found the winning goal about 15 minutes from the end through Santiago Gimenez, who scored his first goal at San Siro and his second consecutive goal in Serie A after netting against Empoli.
Milan, a different story
As has often been the case under Conceição, substitutions and the second half made the difference. Milan returned from the locker room with Leão and Gimenez, and it was those two who combined to set up the winning goal. However, it’s clear that with this kind of half-hearted performance, Milan will struggle to achieve its mission of a Champions League comeback. At the same time, getting past Feyenoord on Tuesday won’t be easy: a completely different attitude will be needed, or Milan will be saying goodbye to the competition. After the playoffs, crucial matches await between late February and early March: first, the rescheduled fixture against Bologna, then the showdown with Lazio. One thing is certain, the Milan team cannot afford to play like they did yesterday.
