– Parth Pandya
Stand-in captain Andrea Pirlo won the ball, but was choked for space by three players from the other team. However, the brilliant architect of goals that he is, Pirlo still managed to clear the ball and pass it to the electric Ronaldinho. The Brazilian then did something that he so often used to during his days at Barcelona; he ran with unimaginable pace, cut across three defenders on the way and passed the ball to the waiting striker. The tall forward wasted no time in getting hold of the ball, despite being jostled by the rival team’s defenders.
The striker swiveled and unleashed a ferocious shot. The keeper dove full-length, arms flailing in a desperate attempt to keep the ball from going in. He failed.
San Siro needed no greater excuse to go wild. The striker who topped off that orgasmic display of football was none other than Zlatan Ibrahimovic – the Swedish sensation to whom San Siro was never a foreign place.
It didn’t take the Swede too long to open his Milan account..
One of the two major signings for AC Milan in the current season, he could not have afforded to take any longer to announce his arrival. The occasion was big – the first day of Champions League, straight after a defeat at the hands of a newly promoted side. San Siro was beset with zero tolerance, and after a first half that produced nothing, this piece of resplendent football against Auxerre by the Rossonerri simply turned things around. Having achieved some of the most lucrative deals under their belt this season, Milan had garnered the attention of the whole European fraternity, and a sparkling start like this would certainly not have hurt.
A real dip in fortunes – not just an allegory
Masimilano Allegri must have been a pleased man at the end of the match, but his pleasure was to be short lived, as Milan managed to gather no more than two points in the following two league games against Catania and Lazio – at home and away, respectively. The biggest trouble for Milan presently is the obvious lack of energy in the midfield. No matter how impressive its personnel look on paper, they appear far from it on the field.
Clarence Seedorf, Massimo Ambrosini and Gennaro Gattuso –loyal guards of the Milan midfield for years – are all on the wrong side of their 30s. Gattuso’s killer vision for passes and his rock solid physical game have gone missing. Ambrosini too, despite assuming the arm-band, does not look as befitting as Maldini wearing it on his sleeves. Seedorf, the fittest of the lot, is becoming increasingly vulnerable to fast paced full backs attempting to break through. Amidst the distorted and disjointed holding line, Milan needs somebody with a lot more energy to partner Andrea Pirlo and it is high time Allegri thinks of introducing his young guns to the action.
Kevin Prince Boateng and Rodney Strasser are two options who could play deeper, and should the need arise, play wider. The pressing need of the hour is a dyed-in-the-wool defensive midfielder. Boateng – a naturally quick-footed player – can serve this purpose, with his clean tackles and ability to win balls from the air.
Another positive Boateng brings is that he can allow Pirlo to play a little closer to centre of the field, giving him enough space to work his magic. This is a clarion call to Allegri to eliminate the 4-3-3 and reserve a permanent spot for Boateng in the more dynamic 4-2-3-1 formation. This would, in a manner of speaking, ensure a continuous supply of balls to Ronaldinho on the left front, since Boateng tends to proceed on an inclined line of attack.
Technical tactics thrown into a tizzy
The next question to be addressed is whether to play Pato or Robinho on the right, or to play the both of them and eliminate Clarence Seedorf. Milan would do better to concentrate on attacking, as that is where millions were spent this summer. The goals conceded in the last two games should not throw the planners into a tizzy. Although the defence lacks pace, it is certainly powerful enough to contain an opposition in the dying moments of a game, with even the two central midfielders helping out if required.
What should really trouble Allegri is the number of goals scored. A serious introspection needs to be done in the dressing room, before they host Genoa and then travel to Amsterdam to play Ajax in the hope of registering an away win and carrying on with the momentum gathered in Europe.
The pressure is mounting on Allegri
In the absence of Pato, Allegri has no real reason not to start with Robinho, and being a little reactive over the concession of goals, it is natural he might not want to risk it all with 4-2-3-1 right away. However, choosing a 4-4-2 or preferring Inzaghi over Robinho betrays cowardice and the laid back approach of a mechanical mindset which could prove fatal to the campaign in the long run.
The beginning of this season has been far from impressive, and the cause is primarily technical. The players are of the highest quality, the unit is of the highest quality, the fitness is of a relatively high order but what’s missing is a cohesive approach.
That makes Masimillano Allegri the most important man as far as the plan to turn things around goes. Silvio Berlusconi does not really tend to interfere in the club’s matters as long as the shrewd old man Adriano Galliani deals with them. But Allegri may find Berlusconi breathing down his neck soon enough, if the results do not improve – and that must be incentive enough to get his act together.