Alessandro Nesta needs to remain fit for the entire season or Milan can forget Scudetto for one more season
The legendary centre back played just one Serie A match in the entire 2008/09 Serie A season and a lot was said about his looming retirement. Defying all odds, the former Lazio captain returned to full fitness and had one of his best seasons in recent years.
In the last season, he was arguably the best defender in the world. Returning from the brink of retirement to establish himself as the best says much about his greatness while also making it clear in the dearth of top class international defenders. Milan was challenging for Scudetto for much of the last season and even sat atop of the rankings for a brief period. The credit goes to the stylish defender, which held the brittle defence of the ultra attacking Milan. Where the contribution and ball playing skills of Thiago Silva cannot be undermined, it was really Nesta whose influence was vital.
Fast forward a few months and the fans and pundits alike voiced concerns over the Nesta-dependent Milan defence. The need for a top class central defender and a wing back was evident. The summer transfer period was an ideal opportunity for Milan to make their move. Berlusconi however, decided to go for the spectacular instead and signed two super stars in Ibrahimovic and Robinho. Sokratis Papastathopoulos was signed to add cover to the defence. Papa can play both the central defensive and right back positions. His versatility was first thought to be an asset but sadly he isn’t world class in any of the two positions. Though he’s just 22 and will definitely improve over the years. The influence of Alessandro Nesta will do him the world of good. Milan needed someone like him right after their Champion league success in 2007. A good young defender like Fabiano Santacroce or Davide Astori could have been groomed well enough to play in a top club like Milan. Milan was three years late in signing a young defender.
Last week newly promoted Cesena which was playing in Serie C2 not long ago, humiliated Milan with a convincing 2-0 score line. The combined salary of the entire Cesena is super passed by that of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and yet their superbly organized defence proved too tough a nut to crack and Milan were caught napping on their lighting quick counter attacks.
Milan looked completely out of ideas and gave away possession in the final third of the pitch. The defence without the calming aura of Alessandro Nesta looked in disarray. Papa in particular was to blame for both the goals. Erjon Bogdani’s strength was too much for him as he scored the first goal with a well placed header. Papa’s defending for the second goal was school boyish to say the least - committing to a tackle when he had only one defender covering him in a ‘3 versus 2’ situation was suicidal to say the least.
Had Nesta been fit for the fixture, Milan would not have conceded those two goals. He is far too good aerially to be outmuscled and too experienced to commit suicidal tackles like painfully inconsistent Papa did. Against a more fluid team like Napoli and Roma, Papa would be run ragged unless he improves his game by several notches. Unless he manages to improve drastically in the coming matches, Milan’s only hope of challenging for the Serie A title lies with the ageing legend that remains the last in the line of some great Italian centre backs.
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