Many criticisms can be made of Sergio Conceição’s Milan. It does not dazzle, it does not convince, it plays a hybrid, muddled, undefined style of football. However, one cannot say that it lacks character or that it does not stay in the fight.
This was their second consecutive comeback. At Lecce, they overturned a 0-2 deficit into a 3-2 victory; yesterday at San Siro, they turned the game around against Como—an opponent of a different and higher level, even though the lake-side club’s league position is starting to crumble. From 0-1 at halftime, after being dominated by Fabregas’s side, to a second half fueled by fury and redemption. The numbers confirm it: in the top five European leagues since Sergio Conceição's arrival, only Bologna has recovered more points from losing positions than Milan—15 points versus 12.
On the other hand, Como has squandered 22 points from winning positions; only Venezia (24), Valencia, and Southampton (23) have done worse. Milan vs. Como is compressed within these extremes. It is difficult to determine whether yesterday’s victory is enough for Conceição to still believe in securing fourth place. Pending today’s matches, Milan spent the night in seventh place, five points behind fourth-placed Juventus. Believing is not just allowed; it is necessary.
Como once again received plenty of praise, but the standings are not as flattering. It would be wiser to focus on securing the 10 points needed for safety. Their attractive style of play is so abundant that it risks becoming overindulgent. The influence of Cesc Fabregas, a young and talented coach, is evident and appreciated, but survival must be the priority. Translation: they will need to scavenge and accept even ugly, scrappy, and dirty goals.
Football Lessons
Como immediately took control at San Siro, playing with poise and personality. The roles were reversed: Como stepped into the game as if they were the big team and relegated Milan to the role of the smaller side, forcing them into mediocre thinking, relying on counterattacks. Early on, perhaps out of overconfidence, Como allowed two lethal counterattacks, but Musah wasted both, especially the first—after rounding the goalkeeper, he weakly rolled the ball wide. The second chance fell apart due to a lack of technical skill: after a fine pass from Gimenez, the American failed to control the ball and tangled himself up.
Milan stumbled on Musah’s clumsiness, while Como kept playing their rhythmical, flowing football—a blend of funky jazz. A game built on possession. At times, it seemed like Como was overdoing it, toying around too much, and approaching Maignan’s goal with too little aggression. And perhaps that was indeed the case: if Como had been more direct, the first half would have ended with a much bigger scoreline instead of just 0-1.
The much-anticipated goal came from a horizontal attacking move, from the left to the center, with Milan players helpless against such precision and clarity: Caqueret-Diao-Paz-Da Cunha, and goal. Maignan was beaten by a precise strike from the French-Portuguese midfielder, nestling the ball into the bottom corner. Before and after the goal, Como freed a man in front of Maignan—who did well to deny Paz at 0-0 and then Kempf, a center-back, at 0-1.
Stunned by Como’s precise passing game, Milan could not mount a response and went into halftime with a humiliating zero shots on target.
Possession does not matter, say the advocates of simple football. Perhaps, but Como ended the first half leading 1-0 with 62.4% possession. Football lessons from Professor Fabregas.
Milan's Comeback
Out went Hernandez and Bondo, in came Jimenez and Fofana. At halftime, Conceição reshaped his team. The French midfielder helped Milan disrupt Como’s passing sequences, breaking their rhythm. Bondo lacks Fofana’s presence—this was clear from the second half. However, Milan nearly collapsed early on, saved only by an offside call by the slimmest of margins. Da Cunha raced down the right flank and fired past Maignan, aided by a deflection from Gabbia. Milan was saved by the VAR room’s software: Da Cunha was offside by just a fraction of a shoulder at the start of his run.
From 0-2 to 1-1 in an instant. Reijnders, with a pass that decades ago would have found a certain crew-cut-haired Gianni Rivera on these screens, set up Pulisic for the equalizer. Then Conceição had another brilliant idea—subbing in Abraham for Gimenez—and it led to 2-1. The English striker delivered a sensational assist for Reijnders, who had already hit the crossbar earlier and would later miss a golden chance for 3-1.
Fabregas played his desperation card, bringing on Dele Alli, who had not played in ages and ended up getting sent off for a reckless challenge on Loftus-Cheek.
Milan held onto the 2-1 lead, and one thing must be said: this Milan is stronger than people describe and stronger than their league position suggests.
They struggle for various reasons, not least due to the hostile environment of constant protest. This Milan does not need to be rebuilt—it needs to be regenerated.
Source: La Gazzetta dello Sport
