Talking about horse racing when speaking of Massimiliano Allegri has become a bit overused and, in some cases, tedious. Yet, if you look at the Rossoneri squad, you can easily identify the coach’s favorites, giving new meaning to this equine metaphor.
The team is the stable, the players are the horses. The thoroughbred is without doubt Luka Modric, the most loyal is Adrien Rabiot, raised like a son. Then there is the new warhorse Alexis Saelemaekers, a player Allegri practically never leaves out.
A fighter
For those who don’t know, “destriero” refers to a horse used in battle. That makes it the perfect label for Alexis Saelemaekers. When Allegri was appointed Milan’s new coach, one of his first requests was to keep the Belgian winger, coming off two strong loan spells at Bologna and Roma. The former, by choice of Italiano, did not activate their option to buy.
The latter only took him on a dry loan, and Milan rejected their summer request for a sale. It is no surprise that Max immediately placed his trust in Alexis. He is the perfect player for him. He combines solid technical quality, sharpened over the years and now matched by greater decisiveness, with a work ethic unmatched in Milan’s squad. He covers the flank tirelessly, ideal for the 3-5-2 Allegri has chosen to start the season.
Undroppable Saelemaekers:
The numbers from Alexis’ start to the year are clear: 4 starts in 4 matches, including the Coppa Italia, only subbed off in the 81st minute against Bari and the 77th against Lecce. In other words, Saelemaekers is undroppable for Milan at the moment. Yesterday he was decisive with a well-placed assist for Modric’s first goal in the Rossoneri shirt.
The Croatian star’s repeated celebration with him, both immediately after the goal and later after the match, was a kind of official blessing for the rest of the season. Add to that his popularity in the dressing room and especially among fans, who have always appreciated his effort and commitment. He may never be a front-page player, but he could prove essential in determining whether Milan reach their targets in May, as pointed out by Milan News.
