Everyone knows this is not a groundbreaking revelation, but Milan’s struggle to find the net signals an issue that has dragged on for too long, even during a season that has been positive so far. The defeat in Rome should not and must not be taken as proof of something deeper, and Max Allegri was likely aware of this already.
Milan’s attack stuck in a long downturn:
For years, the strikers arriving at Milanello, with the exception of the Giroud stretch, which for three seasons reminded Milan fans what it means to have a number 9 who understands the role, seem to fall into a negative spiral that prevents them from performing as they should. From Higuain to Piatek, then to Morata and now Gimenez, Milan has not managed in recent years to rely on a true goalscorer capable of scoring 15 or more goals. This is a worrying figure for the club.
With Santiago injured, and never truly integrated into the project, Nkunku is getting his chances, but for now he is wasting them. Aside from the brief moment of his Coppa Italia goal against Lecce, the French striker, who has yet to find the right space, does not seem comfortable playing as one of the two forwards. He fails to influence matches, struggles to hold the ball to help the team push up, and does not beat his man. Whether the issue is physical, tactical, or linked to adaptation, it is a problem that must be addressed, especially considering Gimenez’s season, which for different reasons never began.
In such a situation, it is difficult to understand where the fault lies, because identifying a presumed culprit is often the starting point from which to rebuild. On one hand, the management must take responsibility for questionable transfer choices, some of them flawed from the start, such as the heavy investment for the former Chelsea player. In other cases, like Higuain, despite the years gone by, it is hard to place much blame on the management given the Argentine's track record and the numbers he produced at Juventus.
As always, when trying to identify responsibility for an issue that has lasted several seasons, balance is needed. Maybe the problem also stems from expectations, which are inevitably high. At San Siro, and among Milan supporters, demands are high. And that is understandable, especially after years without a true reference striker.
Allegri’s forwards under pressure to deliver with limited chances:
At the same time, the style of play sought by Max Allegri does not make scoring easier. Strikers, forced to work with few clear chances, must make the most of every small opening without mistakes. This increases pressure and responsibility, making it even clearer how difficult it is to find the right player to fix the attacking problem, as relayed via those at Milan Press.
What remains to be seen now is how the Rossoneri club management will move in the next winter window to unlock an attacking department that is struggling to take off. The goal, never so urgent, is to finally pull out of the hat a striker capable of coming in, handling pressure, and showing right away that he fits the club’s ambitions.
