And suddenly, Milan. The real one, or maybe simply the one the fans had been expecting for who knows how long.
The Rossoneri conquer Udine with a resounding 4-0, playing what is without a shadow of a doubt the best performance, at least of the Sergio Conceição era. Speaking of which, the Portuguese coach had the courage to change his team’s setup, switching to a three-man defense: more solidity at the back, keeping a clean sheet for the first time after 9 games, with Pavlovic reinvigorated in the role of left-sided center-back, after the awkwardness of certain games as an out-and-out central defender; more freedom to push down the flanks, especially with a rampant Theo Hernandez covering the whole wing; more of everything, in general. Of course, Udinese played their part: distracted, never really in the game, Runjaic’s team suffers their fourth defeat in as many matches. Bianconeri on vacation too early? The standings are still reassuring. Rather, maybe it’s Milan who have woken up too late, if we think about the minimum goal at the start of the season: qualification for the Champions League.
Conceição changes his Milan with three at the back
Milan have finally did well in attack this time with Luka Jovic playing as a lone striker, in an attempt to create space and hold back defenders, in a role similar to the one played last season by Olivier Giroud, who has joined the long list of European players in MLS.
The Serbian striker was supported on the wings by Pulisic and Leao. Runjaic, still without Thauvin, opts for Lucca as the center-forward with the interesting Atta behind him. After just 22 seconds, Reijnders immediately has a huge chance: Kristensen and Bijol make a mess of Pulisic’s long ball, effectively handing it to the Dutchman one-on-one with Okoye, who does well to block the shot aimed directly at goal. Long balls are a problem for the hosts , and in the 6th minute Leao narrowly misses connecting with a pinpoint – almost door-to-door – pass from the heavily booed Maignan. Tensions between the Udinese crowd and the Frenchman are still alive from what happened in the return match last season, when the goalkeeper, subjected to racist chants, temporarily left the field. The start is entirely Rossoneri, with the home team a bit absent-minded and struggling to read the runs from deep by their opponents. Milan, however, fail to capitalize on their clear superiority. And in the 33rd minute, on their first real foray forward, it’s Udinese who come close to scoring: Ekkelenkamp spots Ehizibue’s run, who fires a diagonal right-footed shot, Maignan saves, and then Gabbia blocks Ekkelenkamp’s attempt at the rebound, as pointed out by La Gazzetta dello Sport.
One-two...
But it’s only a flash, because first Leao has a cross-shot saved by Okoye, then in the 42nd minute – after a recovery and assist from Fofana – he invents a wonderful shot from the edge of the box that curls under the crossbar. And just before the break, Pavlovic doubles the lead with a header from a Pulisic corner. A Milan one-two before the bell, with Udinese going into halftime dazed.
The second half opens with moments of fear for Maignan, who in the 7th minute violently collides with teammate Jimenez while coming out. The goalkeeper is stretchered off – to applause – covering his face after over two minutes of treatment, forcing Conceição to substitute him with Sportiello. Udinese try, putting together a couple of chances wasted by Lucca and company, but inevitably end up leaving themselves exposed. So, Theo Hernandez, with one of his trademark runs, in the 29th minute scores the third by blasting it past the helpless Okoye. Over? Not yet. Shortly after, Leao generously gives up his brace to serve Reijnders just a step away from the goal line. Milan’s four-goal haul, almost unbelievable: it hadn’t happened in the league since the reverse fixture against Venezia. Back then Fonseca was in charge, and a whole season lay ahead, full of hope. Today the reality is much tougher – but who knows, maybe it’s a new beginning.
