Many Milan fans woke up to a video in their social media timeline. There's Kyle Walker, who, upon returning to the field at halftime of Napoli-Milan, is speaking animatedly with Joao Felix. The body language suggests: part of it is an attempt at persuasion, part of it is a reproach. You can hear an audio: "Just pass the ball. we are not Messi. No one here is Messi"
The video says something about Walker's role, who has been at Milan for just over two months but can afford to speak due to his high-level resume: no one in the Milan squad has played in the Premier League, the Champions League, a European Championship, or a World Cup like him.
It also suggests something about Joao Felix's difficult moment, as he is clearly struggling.
The numbers from the match, though, are strange. Walker's phrase seems directed at a selfish teammate, all dribbling and free initiative. In fact, Joao Felix in the 55 minutes he played, did not attempt a single dribble. And watching his game, play by play, confirms: Joao, on a couple of occasions, maybe held onto the ball too long, but in general, he limited himself to passes, horizontal plays. If anything, the criticism that can be directed at him is the opposite: too timid.
Source: La Gazzetta dello Sport
