"Having a president who is increasingly present at Milanello is certainly an advantage. But his assessments after the Sassuolo match have sparked controversy."
Following the draw against Sassuolo, which left a bitter taste in the mouths of everyone at AC Milan, Gerry Cardinale’s ratings of his team and several Milan players have sparked considerable debate.
The Rossoneri owner was far from impressed with the performance at the Mapei Stadium and even gave Adrien Rabiot a failing grade, despite the Frenchman scoring Milan’s only goal of the match. The only players to receive positive assessments from the RedBird chief were Diego Moreira and Christian Pulisic.
As Corriere dello Sport explains this morning, Cardinale’s assessments have proved to be an "own goal". Criticizing Rabiot, for instance, seems entirely unjustified. While it is true that the Frenchman did not produce his best performance against Sassuolo, there is a considerable difference between acknowledging an underwhelming display and giving him a failing grade. Moreover, discussions over his contract renewal are currently underway, and such criticism could only serve to strain relations between the parties involved.
Cardinale’s positive assessment of Pulisic has also raised eyebrows, as the only truly memorable moment of the American’s performance was his excellent through ball in the second half that sent Samuel Chukwueze through on goal. Apart from that, Pulisic contributed very little, writes Corriere dello Sport.
Cardinale, it is fine to be unhappy after the Sassuolo match, but...
The only assessment that seems justified is the one concerning Gonçalo Ramos, who once again failed to find the back of the net. However, his teammates also bear responsibility, as they provide him with too little service, often of poor quality, and fail to get enough players into the opposition penalty area, leaving him far too isolated up front.
It is therefore perfectly understandable for Cardinale to be dissatisfied and disappointed with Milan’s performance in Reggio Emilia. His increased involvement with the club after years of maintaining a relatively low profile is certainly a positive development.
However, there was no need to criticize the team and Ruben Amorim so harshly, especially as the Portuguese coach continues to enjoy the full confidence of the club’s management.
