Should Kevin-Prince Boateng replace Gennaro Gattuso at AC Milan?
Ever since AC Milan won their seventh UEFA Champions League in 2007, the team has been in a constant decline. The club’s success in the continental competition this decade has been built around a legendary midfield. In their prime, Gennaro Gattuso, Andrea
Pirlo and Clarence Seedorf were the type of players who would have walked in to any team in the world.
Andrea Pirlo would sit deep and fire his 60 yarder passes with pinpoint accuracy. Clarence Seedorf would link the midfield to attack in superb fashion. The duo for all their ability would have failed had it not been for the terrier bull dog that was Gattuso.
Like a dog that has just been unleashed on an enemy, Gattuso would run with fire in his belly. With clenched teeth, he would dive in to every tackle and every counter attack. His performance in Milan’s 3 – 0 trouncing of Manchester United saw the player dominate
the midfield in ruthless fashion. The fact that Gattuso had a mercurial Cristiano Ronaldo in his pocket for the entire 90 minutes bears testament to his outrageous ability.
Between 2004 and 2007, Gattuso was the best defensive midfielder in the world. The Pirlo-Gattuso partnership won Azzurri their fourth world cup. Their exploits together are such that they have already entered the Rossoneri and Azzurri halls of fame.
Gattuso now turns 33 this January. The passion to win still burns wildly in his eyes but he has lost the legs to match it. Where once he would catch up on opponents even before they received the ball, Gattuso is often left chasing shadows now. The decline
has been alarmingly fast. The Rossoneri signed Mathieu Flamini in 2008 on a free transfer and much was expected of him following his impressive performances in Barclays Premier League. The Frenchman however, has been a disappointment so far. He has fallen
down in the pecking order as new arrival Kevin-Prince Boateng has played all the Serie A matches.
Boateng was a bizarre transfer as CFC Genoa signed him from Portsmouth in the summer transfer period but decided to loan him out to AC Milan with an option to buy. To the surprise of many, Boateng has been one of the best players in a Rossoneri jersey this
season. Despite being played out of position on the right wing where Pato would normally start, the Ghana International has put in some impressive performances. With Robinho returning to full fitness, Milan has a readymade replacement for Pato. Boateng can
then be utilised in areas where he is severely needed.
Alexandre Pato upon his return from injury would slot back in to his right wing position. Boateng would be moved back to the midfield position which is where he belongs in the first place. The former Portsmouth man will bring some much needed urgency in
to a slow and static Milan midfield. He might not have the everlasting energy levels to match a Gattuso in his prime but he has better movement and far better passing abilities. Boateng played the box-to-box midfielder role for Ghana at the World cup to superb
effect. Rossoneri should look to do the same. With Boateng as an all-round midfielder, Ambrosini would look to dominate the midfield. Andrea Pirlo is woefully poor at defending and would be left to do what he does best, firing passes.
AC Milan’s midfield is still one of the best in the world when it comes down to creativity and technical ability and the introduction of Boateng will complete the success formula. Sadly, Gattuso’s AC Milan days are coming to an end. AC Milan loves Ringhio
so much that they just can’t give up on him. Rossoneri often fields their legend in hope that he would rediscover his legs but the sad reality is hitting them now. The club needs to come out of their past and live in the present. Start Kevin-Prince Boateng
in the midfield and the results will come in no time. Perhaps starting from tonight’s fixture against Ajax Amsterdam won’t be a bad idea at all.
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