Five Reasons why AC Milan won’t win the Champions League (Part 2)
Rossoneri defensive midfielders are too old
The passion and the determination with which Gennaro Gattuso plays for AC Milan is simply overwhelming, last night was no different. Ronaldinho played with his heart on his sleeve and his enthusiasm was of such ferocity, Allegri had to
take him off for he would have earned himself an early bath. Indeed it was just that – passion and desire to win against all odds – which kept the ageing legend going. However, such performances are a sad rarity and same goes for the rest of the Milan midfielders.
Last night, bar Boateng, most of the Rossoneri midfielders were slow to react, always arriving second for a loose ball and too slow tracking back. Mourinho’s men took a number of shots on Abbiati’s goal from distance. This was mostly because
Gattuso, Pirlo and even Boateng at times, failed to close them down.
If Milan fails to improve in time, the likes of Barcelona and Arsenal, with their slick passing and movement, will lead Rossoneri midfield a merry dance.
Rossoneri attack still lacks chemistry
Much has been said about the outrageously talented Rossoneri frontline. The likes of Robinho, Ronaldinho, Ibrahimovic and Pato are truly prodigious players, players who can decide a game on their own. However, sadly for Milan, they quadrant
still lacks the chemistry to truly worry the opposition. Last night at San Siro, the Milan attack line looked like a completely disjointed unit, particularly in the first half.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic would frequently control a long ball around the opposition penalty area only to find himself completely isolated. There was no player to receive a pass or a lay off, no one to bail Ibra out. As Rossoneri midfield is
too slow to make the box-to-box runs, all the attacking duties are shifted to the forward trident in Allegri’s 4-3-3 formation.
Allegri normally starts Ibrahimovic – Pato – Ronaldinho combination in attack with Robinho coming off the bench. But regardless of the players, the Rossoneri focus is on individual brilliance rather than team play. Such tactics might work
against weaker oppositions, but on continental front, oppositions play as a well oiled unit. Individual talent counts for little if the team play is lacking.
Massimiliano Allegri lacks the experience
The former Cagliari tactician made his continental debut only this season and is completely alien to the UEFA Champions League. Allegri isn’t a poor coach, far from it, but the primary European competition is a treat for ones with experience
and the winning mentality.
Allegri, over the two legs against Real Madrid, failed to show the two traits. The Rossoneri tactician showed too much respect to Real Madrid last night. With Milan leading 2 – 1, a slender margin, Allegri decided to substitute the ineffective
Ronaldinho for Massimo Ambrosini, a defensive midfielder for an attacker. Instead of bringing on a younger Robinho and trying to seal the result with a further goal, Allegri showed he had no faith in his attack, that he wasn’t expecting Milan too score any
more goals and thus the substitution. Needless to say, Rossoneri squandered the lead in the dying stages of the match and the two sides had to share the spoils.
It is Allegri’s first season in the Champions League and against seasoned veterans like Wenger, Van Gaal, Sir Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho, he stands no chance whatsoever.
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