“Clear the site! There’s construction underway,” bellows Sinisa Mihajlovic. Make sure you have your hard hat to hand and high-visibility jacket on – there’s ongoing building works ensuing in Milan’s midfield.
The area on the field that ends up so unnoticed sometimes, and yet always the first to be blame. Concede, and the midfielders are blamed for not tracking back and aiding the defence. Fail to score, and those in the centre of the park are criticised for not creating enough goalscoring opportunities for the forwards to gleefully gobble up.
With goals yet to flow and not a single clean sheet to celebrate, surely the focus should be on anywhere but the midfield?
It’s an area on the pitch that Milan seem to have never sorted since the days of Andrea Pirlo and Clarence Seedorf. They were the stronghold of a certain 18th Scudetto back in 2011, something that seems so far away these days. It was all too similar during Sunday night’s clash with Inter, with the same exact criticisms being spouted out by the Milanisti.
Some however were much more sensible in their analysis of the match, understanding that improvements had been made following a poor performance against Fiorentina and a sub-par showing when overhauling Empoli.
For every cloud has a silver lining – a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. The Rossoneri rise to their new coach – a tactician, a no-nonsense man at the helm, ready to guide them into a new era. One thing they need is a midfield. A complete midfield.
The match against Inter showcased a number of problems. Firstly, that they missed Nigel de Jong’s running of the match. Secondly, those who featured failed to pop up when needed in and around the penalty box. Finally, the desired system that was displayed, simply did not work.
It is one that can be crossed off Mihajlovic’s list however, with the midfield being switched yet again. The opening day clash with Fiorentina saw Keisuke Honda play the attacking role, with the trio behind involving Giacomo Bonaventura, de Jong and Andrea Bertolacci. Empoli welcomed an altered team, with Suso now the attacking maestro accompanied by Antonio Nocerino this time.
The Derby Della Madonnina saw not one of those midfielders feature from the previous match following the international break. It is evident – Sinisa is still working.
What he must do is find his balance soon, allowing Milan to push forward in the table. It can be argued that this is what pre-season fixtures are for, but the difference between that of a friendly and a domestic match is striking.
The Dutchman de Jong will feature in Milan’s next game with Palermo, there is no doubt about that. The Rossoneri need that stronghold in midfield – the player who will do the simple things whilst sitting comfortably in front of the backline.
His ability will allow the remain trio of midfielders to roam. But what must be sorted is the understanding that whoever plays as an attacking midfielder shouldn’t track back. No matter what.
Honda ended up lost against the Nerazzurri, spending much of the game dawdling around the centre-circle instead of being in the box when it mattered most. Luis Adriano and Carlos Bacca have run their little Milan socks off since arriving, with the Brazilian playing out all 270 minutes, whilst the latter as featuring in 230 minutes.
It meant that when Bonaventura was playing some delightfully brilliant defence-splitting passes, with neither striker able to apply the finish, there was no one there to take the loose ball and power it into the back of the net.
For Bonaventura actually had his role pinned down – picking creative passes and playing a stable game. He was allowed to roam and it’s clear that Giacomo is much more influential when he’s allowed to attack and strike at goal. He has created 7 chances thus far for Milan, five more than the next highest midfielder Honda, making five in the game with Inter.
Riccardo Montolivo remained a much more passive figure, a shadow of his former self. But that is what comes when recovering from a long term injury with the shackles firmly holding him to just spray the passes and nothing else.
It was the correct decision by Sinisa to allow him to grow back into football. Some fans will see it as both a positive and a negative in some cases. Milan looked much more assured defensively against Inter as the Italian just sat in the deep, but lacked any attacking threat or conviction.
When fully recovered, it’s expected he’ll roam more around the field, assisting in the attack. His rather average 77 per cent pass accuracy from the Derby della Madonnina speaks volumes that he isn’t up to scratch, comparing him alongside de Jong – 86 per cent and Bonaventura – 84 per cent.
After three matches of continued changes in the middle, things will finally come together in the coming weeks. It’s obvious. It won’t be like having Pirlo and Seedorf back, but the midfield options to progress onto bigger and better things are certainly there and Mihajlovic knows this.
Results may be slacking, but the performances are picking up. Mihajlovic, albeit his straight talking self, went to bed on Sunday night knowing his team should have gained something from the derby, and that winning points are closer than you think. Master the midfield, and the results will flow.
