Wow 1-4 against a form team in the league away. I was hoping we could pull it off, absorb the pressure and hit them on the counter-attack.
But I'll be the first to admit that my support for Gattuso was wavering, waning even. I was starting to find myself looking to the dark side, to a back-3-playing-Juventino, or to anyone to save our season. If anything I was starting to think that we needed a change in manager to be able to keep Leo and Maldini and many of these players because surely they too are on borrowed time the lower down the table we go.
Watching this match reminded me that Rino is quite good at adapting and evolving. He is still learning and finding his style at a massive club. He does not have a lot of time to learn but you could see that he is trying to address some of the problems:
- before the players had a stubborn insistence (instructed by Rino no doubt) to pass the ball out of the back no matter what. Last night we did pass the ball from the back often, but sometimes booted the ball to safety. That variation is important because it is really hard to keep your concentration for 95 mins.
- before we did not attack with pace on the counterattack and exploit the space when the other team was chasing the game. This game we did. We seemed to have a killer instinct that we did not have in previous games.
- before Rino's substitutions were poor choices. Loved how last night he brought on Laxalt to double up with RR on the left. At one stage there was RR on the left with Laxalt in front of him and Bona in front of Laxalt so we looked really dangerous on the left. Laxalt introduced pace and a counterattacking threat and I really enjoyed watching him play. He's fast becoming one of my favourites and I find myself looking forward to his introduction in every match.
- The Castillejo as false-9 experiment was forced but is such a blessing in disguise. Hopefully no longer will we see Borini as CF. At first I too thought Samu was too lightweight and he kept going down too easily. But the guy works hard, has great movement, draws away defenders and what a goal. It was easily the one I cheered for loudest.
- this match we didn't do too much of our usual pattern of starting a quick attack down the flanks only to slow down and give up and pass it all the way back which was great.
Having said all that, there are still some worries. It could have gone the other way if Gigio didn't make that save, or if Abate didn't make that save of his own or if a penalty was given against Biglia and even worse if he got a second yellow. We sometimes still look a bit sloppy.
But let it not take away from a well-deserved and spectacular victory. It's time to enjoy the moment. I hope we gain momentum and go from strength to strength.
Forza Rino. Forza Milan.
, Suso, Bonaventura, Calhanoglu, Kessie, Cutrone, Paqueta, Bakayo
