Ibradipendenza – part III
Did Zlatan Ibrahimovic prevent Milan from winning the game in Week 22 or did Milan prevent Ibra from winning the tie? Rob Paton writes.
From a nothing moment just after the hour mark, Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s decision to strike out at Salvatore Aronica during Milan’s 0-0 draw with Napoli could prove detrimental to the Rossoneri’s chances of retaining the Scudetto.
The tall Swede’s straight red for violent conduct could rule him out of the team’s next three games – tests against Udinese, Cesena and Juventus – and as the final half hour without him suggested yesterday, Milan are likely to suffer in his absence.
The timing could not have been worse for his side on Sunday. The previous five minutes’ worth of action had just demonstrated the positive effect he continues to have on the side. A 60-yard cross-field pass from Urby Emanuelson was flicked on by Ibra to Robinho for his best chance at goal, whilst a similar ball five minutes after that from Clarence Seedorf found Ibra in space enough to work his only shot on goal too. These were the Diavolo’s best chances and both centred on the No 11’s input.
The debate going into the weekend fixture with Napoli hinged upon Milan’s returning dependence on Ibrahimovic, in light of his no-show at Lazio and the team’s subsequent 2-0 defeat. With a suspension now due, it is a debate that is only likely to return.
It is not without reason. Ibra has scored eight more League goals than any other teammate this season and combined with assists provided, has statistically directly accounted for seven of the team’s 44 points. Just as significantly, he has scored the first goal in seven games and has also netted in 67 per cent of League appearances so far this term, a higher proportion than both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have managed in La Liga at Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively. Before the midweek game with Lazio, he was also on his best goal-scoring run of his entire career in Italy. In effect, this season has seen Ibra deliver quantity, consistency and influence with his goal-scoring.
Statistically, in light of Antonio Cassano’s absence and Alexandre Pato and Robinho’s dramatic decline from respective 14-goal seasons last term to just four between them this, Milan have come to again rely on Ibra. However, before both the good – the chances he fostered – and the ugly – his dismissal – came the bad and with it perhaps the clue as to why the first half against Walter Mazzarri’s men mirrored similar games against Juventus, Fiorentina, Inter and Lazio.
With 42 minutes on the clock at San Siro, Mark Van Bommel picked up possession from just inside his own half. Looking up, he saw striker Ibrahimovic break free from marker Paolo Cannavaro 60 yards down-field. On the blind side of Hugo Campagnaro, the onside Swede had 20 yards of free grass between himself and the Napoli goal. Van Bommel knocked the ball square to right-back Ignazio Abate and Ibra threw his arms up in frustration.
The first 45 saw a deep and disciplined defensive display from Napoli at San Siro and for it they were fully deserving of the point picked up. Yet, there were instances where they were open and that Ibra was available, but that the Rossoneri could not provide the avenues to find him.
Attention is on Ibra this season for the fact that he has now not scored or assisted in six League games this season, and but for the 4-3 away to Lecce, the team have dropped points in each. In every encounter, opponents have set up as Napoli did at the weekend – defensively organised and solid, with the acceptance at some stages to play 11 behind the ball.
The fact that it is a curious statistical anomaly in Ibra’s season and that he scored against all five clubs last term suggests that the issue of Ibradipendenza is not the issue at all. Indeed, as he showed briefly before the red card this weekend, if his teammates are able to take the opportunity to release him into the game, he responds.
Milan’s poor record this season in the big games may be in spite of Ibra, rather than because of him. Where the question is on if the Swede is turning up for Milan on the big occasions this term, should it be reversed to ask if Milan – with their 10-man injury list to consider – are turning up for him this season?
The red card could unfortunately deprive us of the answer in the League against Udinese and Juventus. Interestingly though, where Massimiliano Allegri suggested post-match that things will improve on the injury front to relieve the burden in attack, he also hinted that the rest of the team lacked the ‘competitiveness and adrenalin’ needed to win the League. Ibra’s goals may decide Leagues, but even they cannot take you there alone.
Milan were not the only top-five side not to win at the weekend. Thanks to some bizarre mistakes in Genoa, Lazio fell to defeat, whilst Udinese were punished on the penalty spot twice to fall 3-2 in Florence and Juventus dominated possession but couldn’t create at home to Siena to draw 0-0.
In fact, Inter’s capitulation at Roma completed a five for five record of failing to win in Week 22 for the teams positioned first to fifth. Luis Enrique’s men provided a stark reminder to the Nerazzurri – and perhaps those that run the transfer policy – that identity is important. From holding possession almost at will to hitting Inter with attempt after attempt before breaking through, the Giallorossi bounced back from their midweek disappointment in impressive style. Importantly, it was playing to their Coach’s style of play, even though it had failed to work days before at Cagliari.
Perhaps most significant to the performance was that it was the first time since before Inter’s seven-game winning run that Claudio Ranieri was forced at one point to drop the preferred 4-4-2 formation in an unsuccessful attempt to regain a foothold.
http://bit.ly/ABR2j2
)
