Breaking through the main defensive wall becomes easier when it does not have first-class support. Pavlović’s character and performances have impressed everyone: his expressions on the pitch were as clear a signal as a summer sky: "I am here, and I never hold back."
Pavlović in two years at Milan with 3 (plus one) coaches
After completing his second year at Milan, it is clear which system the Serbian defender prefers. He performs very well in a back three, with the licence to push forward, but less so in the confused back four setup first proposed by Fonseca and then by Conceição. At the dawn of his third season in red and black, Pavlović can say he has worked under four different coaches (awaiting the next one), without forgetting the imminent transfer to Fenerbahçe that fell through after just six months in Italy.
At Salzburg alongside Jaissle:
The former Partizan player remains a difficult contradiction to decode, an enigma we may never see again. From 2022 to 2026, he has dealt, not always with a smile, with six different coaches. At Salzburg, probably the most important stage of his development, also at European level, he absorbed the ideas of Jaissle. The German coach is on Milan’s shortlist for the choice of new manager, and his experience in the Leipzig youth system helped him turn his ideas into concrete results sooner than expected. Then came Struber and Cinel who, in different ways, contributed to refining Pavlović’s development.
The successful prophecy of Zlatan Ibrahimović
So many coaches, different systems, and personalities to deal with every day. Milan’s number 31 is certainly not a lucky comic-book character: when he crouches down after a bad match or speeds up play after winning a tackle, he proves Zlatan Ibrahimović right, at least on this occasion. During the defender’s presentation, Zlatan had emphasised a detail: “I am 200% sure he will become the fans’ favourite.” It took almost a year, but it gives the idea. Pavlović comes from south-eastern Europe and is used to discipline, admirable for how much he runs and for his ability to press every opponent who enters his area. In the club’s uncertainty, he has detached himself without any problem.
