That Santiago Gimenez is not having an easy start to the season is clear to everyone. It is also clear that the Mexican striker’s main problem is in his head. The former Feyenoord forward is far from calm, and not even his goal with the national team during the break has changed things with Milan.
In the last match against Bologna, the Rossoneri’s number 7 wasted two clear chances to double the lead and was one of the very few negative notes of the team’s evening.
Lack of composure behind Gimenez’s struggles?
Beyond the missed chances, Santiago Gimenez continues to be imprecise in other areas of the pitch too, where he often struggles to hold the ball and help the team move up the field. His effort and work rate are not in question, something highlighted by head coach Massimiliano Allegri after the 1-0 win over Bologna, but it is obvious that much more is expected from Milan’s center forward.
His lack of calm is evident, and it is linked without doubt to what happened in the final days of the transfer window, when the club tried to include him in a swap deal with Roma for Dovbyk. The deal did not go through, but it is normal that some traces remain in his mind, hurting his confidence in himself and perhaps in his abilities too.
Santiago Gimenez unlucky so far this season...
As pointed out by Milan News, beyond calmness, Gimenez also needs to find a bit of luck, which has deserted him in these first three league games. Two goals disallowed by mere centimeters against Cremonese and Lecce, and three shots off the woodwork so far, one against Cremonese and two against Bologna. In short, luck has left him at the start of this season, but as often happens with strikers, a single goal might be enough to put everything behind him and return to being the forward who shone at Feyenoord. At Milanello they hope that will be the case, and that Santiago can soon regain calm, confidence, and a touch of fortune.
