Riccardo Montolivo and Arkadiusz Milik suffered knee injuries while on international duty but their respective clubs can still see an upside despite the absences.
Injuries to key players can have an overall effect on a team’s performance throughout a season.
Although football is generally considered to be a team game, the absence of a certain player can still impact on the squad as a whole and two Serie A sides were dealt bad news over the international break.
Both AC Milan midfielder Riccardo Montolivo and Napoli striker Arkadiusz Milik suffered from knee injuries when they represented Italy and Poland respectively, which could actually benefit some of their teammates who have not played regularly.
The much-maligned Montolivo was on the receiving end of a harsh Sergio Ramos tackle in Italy’s 1-1 draw against Spain on Thursday evening and was consequently replaced by Giacomo Bonaventura after 30 minutes. His Rossoneri teammate played better in his absence while the more talented Marco Verratti took his place in the 3-2 victory against Macedonia on Sunday night.
In AC Milan’s most recent Serie A fixture, they were 3-1 down against Sassuolo and Rossoneri coach Vincenzo Montella replaced Montolivo with the young midfielder Manuel Locatelli. It changed the game as the Diavolo staged a comeback and the 18-year-old Locatelli equalised with a thunderous volley before his team triumphed 4-3.
After making the impact he did against the Neroverdi and with Montolivo now on the sidelines, Locatelli has the opportunity to cement his place in Montella’s team. He could also be another academy graduate to feature regularly for the Rossoneri like Gianluigi Donnarumma or Davide Calabria.
Even if Montella decides to keep Locatelli on the bench, Montolivo’s absence could present an opportunity for new signings Jose Sosa and Mario Pasalic but the starlet’s heroics against Sassuolo might have earned him a starting berth in the regista role.
While a space has opened up at AC Milan, a vacancy has emerged in the Napoli attack after Arkasdiusz Milik sustained an injury that looks like as if he was injured in a car accident. When he was playing Poland’s eventual 3-2 victory against Denmark on Thursday night, the 22-year-old injured his knee before half-time.
With Milik expected to be out for about six months with an ACL injury and this should mean that Manolo Gabbiadini will become the undisputed centre-forward for the Partenopei.
The 24-year-old has struggled to establish himself in the Napoli starting line-up but he has usually done well when his place in the team is more secure. For instance, he scored four goals in six Europa League matches in 2015-16 and scored three goals in as many Serie A matches when Gonzalo Higuain served a lengthy suspension.
Milik has been prolific for the Ciucciarelli netting seven goals in nine games but Gabbiadini has the opportunity to become the focal point of the attack under Coach Maurizio Sarri. He played regularly under Rafa Benitez scoring eight goals in 20 Serie A matches but Sarri had a preference for Higuain and then Milik.
During the timeframe that the Polish international will be out, the 24-year-old has the time to seize his opportunity and become a prolific goalscorer. If he squanders this chance, Sarri might have to keep the Italian international on the bench and experiment with a false 9.
Despite links with Everton, Stoke City, Swansea City, and Wolfsburg, Napoli have convinced the former Sampdoria forward to stay but now he must take his opportunity and leave his mark.
Silver linings can emerge in these situations and that has happened at AC Milan and Napoli. With Montolivo out, the Rossoneri nurture the talents of Locatelli, while the void left by Milik at the Partenopei has presented Gabbiadini with the prospect of becoming the star in their attack.
Now it’s time for Locatelli and Gabbiadini to make the most of it.
