Massimiliano Allegri’s first press conference of the season also marked the first since his return to the Rossoneri bench. Among the most widely quoted statements that day was this one, aimed at his new midfielders: "Loftus-Cheek and Fofana will have to score at least 15 goals between them, it’s a target I’ve set and one I care about."
Today, with the first half of the season practically filed away, the Englishman and the Frenchman’s tally reads two goals combined.
When Allegri set that target at the start of the season, he was certainly expecting a different response from his players who, truth be told, did not start badly. The two goals scored by Ruben and Youssouf, one each, came very early in the campaign. Loftus scored against Lecce on matchday two, while Fofana found the net in Udine a few weeks later. Of the two, the bigger disappointment is clearly the Englishman who, even in a Milan shirt, has shown he can be effective in front of goal.
As a partial excuse, it must be said that the number 8 has been moved around repeatedly, but the negative figure remains. As for the French number 19, there is plenty of intelligence in his runs into the box but very little quality in his finishing. Beyond the slightly comical scene itself, yesterday’s episode against Genoa is a clear example, as relayed via Milan News.
How much the goals are missing
In Allegri’s football, goals from midfield are fundamental. In his first season at Juventus, for example, five midfielders combined for 33 goals. But today at Milan, who can score? Taking everyone into account, Rossoneri midfielders have scored a total of five goals this season: one each from Loftus, Fofana, Modric, Ricci, and Rabiot. Adrien Rabiot, in particular, could and should be one of the players who helps most in this area. Last season at Marseille he scored 10 goals, and the year before with Juventus he reached five. Significant numbers which, if at least two or three midfielders in the squad were able to replicate, would give Allegri more certainty and at the same time reduce the burden on Pulisic and Leao who, between knocks and fitness issues, are the ones carrying the attacking load this season.
