A Champions League caliber attack, not a title winning one. At best it may secure a place in Europe’s top competition, but certainly not the Scudetto. The defeat against Parma, which left Milan ten points behind Inter, has once again put the Rossoneri’s attacking issues under the spotlight. In 26 matches they have scored 41 goals, the same as Como, fewer than Juventus with 43, and 21 fewer than Inter, who have netted 62.
"At the end of the day, championships are won by the team that concedes the fewest goals," Massimiliano Allegri said at the start of the season. This year that statement is only half true, since league leaders Inter have conceded 21 goals, just one more than Milan, two more than Como, and five more than Roma. All of those teams sit well behind in the standings and have no realistic chance of finishing first. A solid defense helps, but being decisive in front of goal matters even more. And in that respect, Milan have not stood out for a long, perhaps too long, time.
Milan are missing a striker like Lautaro Martinez or Ciro Immobile
The lack of an attacking leader is clear for everyone to see. Since Ibrahimovic’s departure, the team have lacked a true number nine, a central striker capable of carrying the side, scoring scrappy goals, and leading teammates in difficult moments. Giroud tried, but the Frenchman’s numbers, 15 goals in 2023 to 24, were less impactful compared to players such as Lautaro, Osimhen, Immobile, or Retegui, the most recent Serie A top scorer with 25 goals. This season Leao and Pulisic, who are not central strikers and cannot lead the line alone, have been joined by Nkunku and Fullkrug. Only Fullkrug has the characteristics to shoulder the attacking burden, yet none of them is an undisputed starter, nor the cornerstone around whom to build the team.
Leao the most used?
Leao has been the most used attacking player this season: 19 appearances, 8 goals, and 2 assists, for a total of 1,264 minutes played, according to Transfermarkt. Behind him is Pulisic, who despite physical problems has played the same number of matches, 19, with the same 8 goals and 2 assists, but around 300 fewer minutes, 963 in total. Third in this particular ranking is Nkunku, who has featured in 20 matches but with fewer minutes, 951, contributing 5 goals and 2 assists. Fourth is Gimenez, who before his injury made 9 appearances, 627 minutes, without scoring and with one assist. Last, for obvious reasons, is Fullkrug, who arrived in January from West Ham and has scored one goal, against Lecce, in 10 appearances totaling 291 minutes.
Pulisic with only one goal scored with Rafael Leao
Leao and Pulisic are the most frequently used players, with Nkunku close behind. The American scored at Lecce with Gimenez as his strike partner, twice at Udinese again alongside the Mexican, and once against Napoli with the former Feyenoord player next to him. He scored again against Inter while paired with Leao, added two goals off the bench against Torino when Nkunku was the only striker on the field, and found the net once more against Verona alongside Nkunku, writes Calcio Mercato.
Leao scored his first two goals against Fiorentina, the first with Saelemaekers leading the attack, the second from the penalty spot. His third league goal came against Pisa, with Gimenez as his attacking partner. He scored his fourth, a penalty, at Parma, then struck the decisive blow against Lazio with Nkunku beside him. He was decisive again at Cagliari with Loftus Cheek up front. His seventh goal came against Genoa at San Siro in a late phase with both Pulisic and Fullkrug on the pitch. Against Como he equalized 1 to 1 with Nkunku as his partner.
As for AC Milan's Nkunku scored his first Serie A goals for Milan against Verona with a brace, partnered by Pulisic. He netted penalties against Como, made it 1 to 1 in Florence with both Leao and Pulisic on the field, and scored again against Bologna alongside Loftus Cheek. In short, there is no attacking partnership that truly works. Leao and Pulisic, partly due to injuries, cannot yet be considered a winning duo. They have played little together, and there is still a lack of chemistry and understanding. It remains to be seen whether they will find it in the coming weeks.
