Growth or a missed opportunity? [Newsletter]

Oct 02, 2024

Did AC Milan showcase growth against Bayer Leverkusen? Or was it just a missed opportunity? This has seemingly been the main debate among the Rossoneri fans since the referee blew his whistle for full-time. It’s possible that the answer is yes to both of these questions, but the debate still raises an interesting dilemma about how we should treat the team.

Considering how the season started, there is no doubt that both Paulo Fonseca and the players deserve praise for turning things around. What we saw yesterday added to that notion in many ways, as Milan managed to grow into the game after a slow first half and certainly could have scored at least one goal with more composure. Creating chances wasn’t the issue, but the finishing was.

Not to mention that Xabi Alonso has been the manager of Leverkusen since October 2022, getting a lot more time than Fonseca to work on his game. The same goes for the squad building, of course, and we all know just how important time is for that. Through this lens, many would say that Milan have a lot of positives to take from the game, showcasing growth compared to the start of the season.

On the other hand, you could argue that Leverkusen sat back after the winning goal and also had a few good chances to double their lead. Lack of composure or not, Milan still failed to find the back of the net against a team that almost invited them to attack at one point, which isn’t good enough on the big stage. Through this lens, you would certainly say that it was a missed opportunity for the Rossoneri to bounce back.

There are fans on both sides of this debate, as well as some in the middle, and the answer is far from cut and dry. There is nothing wrong with seeing positives from a game even if it’s a defeat, but a club like Milan must always aim to fight at the top and above all, clinch wins. As such, there is also nothing wrong with pointing out the fact that it could have been a much better evening for the Rossoneri.

The important thing is that we look ahead and continue to support the team, because the fact remains that we could make it four consecutive wins in the league on Sunday. The Champions League schedule will also lighten up significantly after the Real Madrid clash (Club Brugge in between), so there is ample opportunity for Milan to finish within the top 16, which would give them a good chance of advancing.

Speaking of Sunday’s game against Fiorentina, it remains to be seen how Fonseca will approach the team selection. The schedule has been tight and demanding over the last few weeks but there is also an international break coming up, which is an excuse for the manager to go ‘all-out’, or near enough anyway. Then again, the international break isn’t exactly a break for the players these days, so that must also be considered.

News Bulletin

➤ Milan Futuro got their first ever Serie C win last week against SPAL thanks to Chaka Traore’s late winner. They followed that up with a 1-1 draw against Lucchese, with Demirel Hodzic scoring for the second match in a row after Paulo Fonseca took a look at him first hand.

➤ Milan’s Primavera side were unable to build on their derby win over Inter with another three points but they did come from behind to get a draw against Cesena, before losing 3-1 to Bayer Leverkusen in the UEFA Youth League.

➤ AC Milan Women finally got in the win column by beating Lazio 2-1 on Sunday, with Julie Piga getting the opener before Nikola Karczewska’s 81st-minute goal restored the advantage.

➤ Mike Maignan was on top form during the game in Germany on Tuesday night, making several crucial saves, and talks are advancing over his renewal. Meanwhile, there are also positive sensations regarding Theo Hernandez's contract extension especially after his recent comments.

➤ Transfer news round-up: Liverpool are looking at Christian Pulisic as a potential replacement for Mo Sala, Samuel Chukwueze could leave in January with several teams interested, another midfielder investment is planned by Milan with four targets linked, and Mark van Bommel’s son is attracting the Rossoneri's attention.

➤ Our tactical analysis took a look at how Milan were able to eventually break down Lecce and score three goals in five minutes on Friday night, with an analysis of the Leverkusen game to follow. There was also a feature on how Rafael Leao's potentially defining season at Milan has started.