View from the opposition: AC Milan

We’re one game shy of the halfway stage of the season. What have you made of AC Milan’s start to the season?




“I’d say it’s been negative and not so much in terms of points – they have two more than at the same stage last season – but above all because performance levels have dropped, especially at key times. For instance, after a topsy-turvy start, AC Milan had a run of four games against sides from the bottom half of the table between December and 6 January, namely Carpi, Verona, Frosinone and Bologna. Those were ‘must-win’ matches in terms of getting back up the table and into the Champions League places. Yet the Rossoneri took just five points from a potential 12, which means Sinisa Mihajlovic’s side once again have to lower their targets for the season. At this stage, their campaign is almost over given that they’re 11 points off the top and 10 adrift of third place.”

How have the new summer signings settled in?




“I’d say they’ve settled pretty well, as the squad is fairly united. Individual performance levels vary from one player to the next, however. Carlos Bacca is AC Milan’s top scorer with seven league goals and he’s playing well. He’s a fox in the box and doesn’t normally miss from inside the penalty area. Alessio Romagnoli is another top-quality signing who’s showing what he can do. In the last home game against Bologna the team missed him, as he’s the only one able to organise the side’s shape at the back. He’s an important player and a big character.

“Andrea Bertolacci isn’t doing that well though. AC Milan are yet to see the same enterprising, intelligent player we saw last season under [Gian Piero] Gasperini at Genoa. He has undoubted ability but – perhaps because of the sombre mood around the camp – that hasn’t come out so far this term. From what I’ve seen of Luiz Adriano – in that he’s been on the bench since mid-October – he can play his part, especially in the air, scoring a couple of important goals with performance levels I’d label as ‘par’. The strike partnership with Bacca has not worked out brilliantly and that’s why Mihajlovic has often picked [Mbaye] Niang over the Brazilian, as the Frenchman has shown he’s more useful tactically in the Serbian’s system. Finally, there’s Mario Balotelli but I can’t assess his contribution as he’s barely featured because of fitness problems and only played in the second half of September. We know what he can do and when he’s fit again he could prove to be AC Milan’s biggest ‘signing’ of the January transfer window.”

Who has been AC Milan’s most consistent player so far?

“It’s definitely Giacomo Bonaventura because even when the team hasn’t played well he’s always managed to produce something noteworthy, creating an overload on the flank or fashioning goalscoring chances for himself and his team-mates. He’s a cut above the rest of the AC Milan side at the moment because he’s able to do so much and almost all of it well.”

What has been AC Milan’s best performance of the season and why?

“The 3-1 win at Lazio on 1 November. That was the best display under Mihajlovic for several reasons. First of all because of their approach to the match – they showed desire from the first whistle, something we’ve not always seen with the Rossoneri this season. Plus it was a careful performance at the back and also a big display going forward, as they scored three goals and created a host of other opportunities. That said, Lazio were poor that night.”

Meanwhile, what has been the worst match and what went wrong?

“I’d have to say the worst of the lot was the 4-0 home defeat to Napoli on 4 October. The Rossoneri were completely overrun by the side from Campania and that marked a turning point in the season for Mihajlovic’s side, as they abandoned the 4-3-1-2 in favour of a 4-4-2. That said, I should stress they were playing against one of the best side’s in the league for my money, in the shape of Napoli. There was a marked difference in quality between the two sides that night at the San Siro. The other three very negative performances came against the ‘easy’ sides on paper. They should have been guaranteed wins and yet ultimately proved to be wasted opportunities. The Rossoneri were really off-colour in the first halves of the match at Carpi and the home game against Chievo, plus the full 90 minutes at home to Verona. They threw away precious points in those games.”

Which area of the team has been the least effective so far?




“It’s hard to say because, as I’ve mentioned, AC Milan have played with two different formations this season. They began the campaign with a 4-3-1-2, before switching to a 4-4-2. Prior to the Napoli game, which prompted the reshuffle, the Rossoneri struggled to implement Mihajlovic’s ideas, consequently defending and attacking badly as a team and relying heavily on individual quality. The side has certainly got greater balance between the different areas of the pitch with the 4-4-2. They defend better and also have greater options up front but still toil somewhat when it comes to building the play. Therefore, looking at the season as a whole, I’d have to say the midfield has been the most disappointing area of the pitch. Although the system and personnel has changed, the team still struggles to produce convincing football. I’ve gone with the midfield – not to throw the midfielders under the bus but – because defenders and forwards also tend to congregate there, so it’s naturally the area of the pitch most open to criticism.”

Which side in Serie A has impressed you the most over the first half of the season?

“In terms of football, Napoli have showed the best flashes. They play free-flowing, one-touch attacking football which is very easy on the eye. As for solidity, meanwhile, Inter are impressive because their defensive strength is no flash in the pan. If you keep 12 clean sheets from 18 games, that shows you not only are very strong tactically but mentally too. Finally, I have to say Juventus have adopted a wonderful approach in the eight games they’ve won in a row. You can see the Bianconeri’s will to win from the first whistle and that often results in three points come full time. After gifting their opponents a dozen points’ head start early on, they’re now very much back in the title race. I believe they’re the main threat for their challengers.”

What have you made of Roma’s start to the season?




“I tipped Roma for the title at the start of the season, so I’m a little surprised by the team’s performances over the last few weeks. That said, Roma are still in the Serie A title race and the Champions League, so it’s all still to play for. Over the last few weeks in the league, however, [Rudi] Garcia’s men have dropped several points late on, something a team with designs on the Scudetto can’t afford to do. As I’ve said, with a bit of work on their focus at crucial stages of games, Roma have plenty of time to recover because they have one of the best squads in Italy.”

Which Roma player should AC Milan fans fear most?

“AC Milan struggle to cope with players making runs from deep. We saw that with [Emanuele] Giaccherini’s goal for Bologna in the last game at the San Siro, and [Lorenzo] Insigne’s strike in Napoli’s win there in October. I’d say [Alessandro] Florenzi – who is excellent at joining the attack from defence – and Gervinho, who starts further forward is very dangerous in space. They will be the two players that the AC Milan supporters and, above all, the Rossoneri defence will need to be most wary of on Saturday night.”

If you could add one Roma player to AC Milan’s team, who would you pick and why?




“The Rossoneri need greater solidity and quality at the back. So I’d go with [Kostas] Manolas for his consistency and Florenzi for his ability to bomb on down the flank. Those are the two players who would improve Mihajlovic’s side.”

What’s your score prediction for Saturday?

“First and foremost I can see plenty of goals because the statistics tell us both defences concede a lot. I expect to see Roma keen to bounce back after their draw at Chievo to stay in touch with the sides at the top. I believe AC Milan will be neat and tidy, perhaps trying to contain the opposition. If I had to back a winner, I’d go with the Giallorossi given the quality players they have.”