AC Milan might have excited the fans with eight signings that freshen up a squad that was stretched last season, but there are still a few question marks.
Milan’s preseason form has concerned some as the only victories after 90 minutes came against Lumezzane, ES Sahel and Novara in the three games that were played at Milanello, but aside from that there was the penalty shootout victory over Monza.
The same old issues have emerged regarding defensive mistakes which plagued Stefano Pioli’s rearguard last season, and there also seems to be an issue when it comes to fashioning goals from open play.
The Rossoneri lost against Real Madrid and Barcelona during their tour of the USA, while they drew 2-2 against Juventus after leading twice and then lost on penalties.
Journalist Andrea Longoni spoke in a column for MilanNews and he wanted to highlight some of the difficulties that Milan must resolve if they are to have a more positive season domestically.
“Eight days until the start of the Milan season: time is now very short to improve mechanisms and give the team the right balance,” he began.
“It was a decidedly not exciting pre-season, which, mind you, does not mean that the season that is about to begin will be disappointing.
“We remember great summer performances in the past, appetizers of very negative years, as well as worrying summer friendlies, which then led to winning seasons.
“However, it is right to analyze the problems that have emerged. Mainly two: too many goals conceded and few scored. Seen like this, it’s not a small thing.
“More is expected from the defence, also because we have noticed so many gross mistakes on an individual level. The famous last 11 games of the year for the Scudetto with just 2 goals conceded seem like a distant memory.
“It is clear that if we talk about the defensive phase, the contribution of the midfield is also fundamental. And here the first problem at a structural level seems to emerge: many mezzala-type players and no one who can play in the middle.
“Not even Krunic: who in the role is adapted and with very mediocre performances. Pioli’s ‘fixation’ on the Bosnian causes discussion.
“If on the one hand the former Empoli man today, without Tonali and with Bennacer KO, represents historical memory in the middle of the field, on the other one cannot think of building a team around him. You need a natural interpreter of the position: there’s no escaping from here.
“Unless you go back to the old 4-2-3-1, with Reijnders and Musah further back and Loftus-Cheek high pivot (or Pulisic in simpler games).
“Then the usual difficulty in scoring: only one goal from open play (Romero’s against Real Madrid) is indicative of a problem that has remained.
“From this point of view, however, perhaps the solution is already at home: in fact Chukwueze and Okafor have almost never been used in top-level summer competitions. Their contribution will be fundamental in the implementation phase.
“Assists from the transfer window, in any case, would be a good and right thing. Giroud will blow out 37 candles in September and already last year he lived with physical problems that unfortunately he will hardly erase.
“The Swiss ex Salzburg can play as a 9, but here too we would need not an adapted but a pure centre-forward. With a central midfielder and forward, the team would become complete from every point of view.”
