Two narrow defeats for Milan and Atalanta in the Champions League last week, but based on what was seen on the pitch, both were deserved. Qualification for the Round of 16 is still possible for them, but in Europe, even against second-tier teams like Feyenoord and Club Brugge, just doing the bare minimum is not enough.
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Tonight, much more will be needed than what was shown last night to avoid the major disappointment of having to exit the Champions League.
The Dutch and the Belgians played better in this first leg of the playoffs, but more than the quality of the opponents, it was the underwhelming collective and individual performances of Milan and Atalanta that made the difference. Conceição has yet to find the cure for Milan’s inconsistent problems, even after the latest win against Hellas Verona at San Siro a few days ago.
Gasperini, on the other hand, is struggling to rediscover his old Atalanta: after an 11-game winning streak, the Nerazzurri have entered a less brilliant phase in terms of performances and, consequently, results.
Everything was missing…
Last week, Milan’s night got off to a bad start immediately with a goal conceded in the third minute. But there were still 87 minutes to turn things around. Instead, almost everything was missing: cohesive play, intensity, aggression, incisiveness, and individual inspiration. Nearly all defensive and offensive duels were lost, as Conceição honestly admitted after the match. The “Fab Four” up front failed to deliver this time: Pulisic was poor, Felix was not very dangerous, Gimenez was uninspired, and Leão—though slightly more active—almost always made the wrong decisions in key moments. The level in Europe is much higher compared to what three-quarters of Serie A teams offer. Shining against Empoli (with all due respect to the Tuscan side) is one thing; facing Feyenoord is another (and we’re not even talking about Liverpool or Real Madrid here…). Technical quality alone is not enough; consistency, character, and mentality are required. There is plenty of work for Conceição. Since his arrival, there have been some positives and many negatives. Late-game reactions and the courage to field many attacking players are not enough: Milan still lacks identity, continuity, and, most importantly, a convincing playing style. However, it is worth remembering that the Portuguese coach has only been in charge for a month and a half, and he deserves time. A side note: appearances don’t define a player, and one can have dyed hair and still be decisive on the pitch, but seeing Theo Hernández with his fluorescent hairstyle gives the impression of someone not entirely focused on the team’s crucial moment. We know saying this might make us sound like boomers.
Not just Milan, Atalanta are also not ‘European’ enough
Atalanta returns from Belgium with a lot of bitterness. The penalty conceded after the 90th minute was surreal. But it would be a big mistake for La Dea to focus only on the referee’s incredible decision. Instead, they must carefully analyze the match because Bruges played better and deserved the victory. The Belgians dominated the first 30 minutes, during which Atalanta seemed surprised by their opponents’ pace and intensity. However, in the last quarter-hour of the first half, Bruges slowed down, allowing the Bergamaschi to get back into the game and equalize. In the second half, Bruges regained control. Retegui had the chance to take the lead before the heated finale that infuriated Gasperini. Atalanta, which had been playing the most convincing football among Italian teams up to this point, looked far from European in this match. However, players like De Roon and Pašalić showed maturity after the game by not dwelling too much on the penalty and instead admitting that their performance was below par and that much more will be needed in the return leg today. Gasperini preaches caution, acknowledging the quality of the opponents (“winning by two goals won’t be easy”), but for those who have seen Atalanta shine in European competitions, the feeling is that if they can return to their usual high standards, qualification for the Round of 16 is still well within reach. Exiting in the playoffs, after missing out on the Supercoppa and already being eliminated from the Coppa Italia, would start to make the season look like a glass half empty, even though the club’s main objective remains securing another Champions League spot. However, there’s no need to be pessimistic before it’s time. In Bergamo, the stadium will be a fortress, and if Gasperini manages to recover Lookman, the result can be overturned without needing a miracle. Let’s stay optimistic—Milan and Atalanta can still go through. We’ll find out tonight.
