It is not always true that a good start means you are halfway there, especially in football, where the end of the season matters more than the beginning.
Saelemaekers: what a collapse since February
This view certainly applies to a large part of Milan, but one of the first names that comes to mind when thinking about a collapse after a great start is Alexis Saelemaekers.
The Belgian has played 38 matches in all competitions so far this season, recording 2 goals and 4 assists, all of which came before 18 January, the day of the assist for Fullkrug.
From that moment on, the performances of the number 56 have steadily declined, to the point that in recent weeks his presence on the pitch has often been detrimental.
Even against Atalanta, the 1999-born player looked like the version of himself from a few years ago: flashy but ineffective, lots of touches but little end product, especially in front of goal, as at the end of the first half when he chose not to shoot into an open chance and instead attempted a dribble, which he did not even pull off.
Is Saelemaekers' absence against Genoa really a problem?
On Sunday at San Siro, the Belgian was also booked for protesting against the referee, another issue he has carried with him for years, and since he was already one booking away from suspension, he will miss the next hugely important match against Genoa.
People immediately started talking about a major problem for the Rossoneri, who will now have to play on the right with Athekame or with some other invention from Max Allegri, but will it really be such a problem?
As mentioned, in recent weeks the former Bologna and Roma player has not performed well either offensively or defensively, so this absence could actually help both the team, which might become dangerous again down the right flank with a different player there, and Saelemaekers himself, who after a match of rest could return at his best for the final game.
Source: Milan Press
