Vitiello portions out blame for Milan’s ‘structural and organisational problems’ | OneFootball

Journalist Antonio Vitiello believes that AC Milan have some deep-lying problems which are the reason for their inconsistency and must be addressed.

To describe Milan’s season as a rollercoaster would be accurate, given that they have alternated highs like the wins over Inter and Real Madrid with lows such as the defeats away against Parma and Fiorentina.

While there have been positives to extract from most games, the bottom line is that the Rossoneri do not have much time to correct things. Juventus are next after the break and the Champions League places are already seven points away, even if there is a game in hand for Paulo Fonseca’s side.

Vitiello published his weekly column for MilanNews and – just like previous international breaks – it provided an opportunity to take stock of the obvious issues the team are facing.

“There are problems and they need to be addressed. There is no point in flying to the other side, it happens that then we arrive in Spring with an unbridgeable gap and it is too late. It would be better to intervene immediately,” he began.

“Milan are seventh with the same number of points as Bologna. In 11 league games, the Rossoneri have won only five, less than 50%. 14 goals conceded in 11 games, with goals conceded in carbon copies, always in the same way (cross from the left and arrival of the opponent at the far post).

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“There is a lack of team balance, a way of being on the pitch that gives stability to the two phases. Here the responsibility lies with the coach who puts the players on the pitch, chooses the formation and what type of match to set up.

“But also with those who built the squad by signing this type of player rather than others, reinforcing some departments and leaving others with few solutions (short squad in midfield or in the role of left-back).

“Milan can’t control the field well, the structure doesn’t work. Every now and then there is a result against a big team, in which they put in a great performance like against Inter or Real Madrid, but in the long run it doesn’t work and they drop very important points along the way. It’s a team that can’t press or even counter the opponent’s initiative.

“Theo Hernandez may also have his responsibilities, he seems a bit flat and often unmotivated, but he doesn’t get lost because of the mistakes of an individual. Milan conceded three goals in Cagliari, two more goals were disallowed, and two more clear-cut chances were conceded.

“In total, that’s seven colossal chances conceded to the Sardinians, which means that the whole structure didn’t work. Just as it didn’t work with Parma, with Fiorentina, with Torino, and let’s also add the first half with Monza.

“It is not possible to play very well in Madrid, dominate the Spanish team, and after three days suffer against a team that is fighting to avoid relegation.

Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images

“If we add to the tactical and structural defects of the squad a motivational issue, where many players are unable to reset from match to match every three days, it turns out that Milan on the pitch is also overshadowed in terms of duels.

“In fact, it is second to last for fouls committed, second to last for tackles won in Serie A or duels won in the area, even last in the standings for balls recovered. Here is the objective data:

– Fouls committed: Milan last in Serie A (117 total) and second-last (10.6) for fouls per game. – Recovered balls: Milan last in Serie A (435 total) and third-last (39.55) per match. – Duels won: Milan last in Serie A (472 total) and third-last (42.91) per match. – Aerial duels won: Milan second-last in Serie A (420 in total) and second-last per match (10, 91).

“So in addition to the tactical aspect, where the coach has the greatest responsibility, there is a team with certain characteristics that struggle in dirty games. Milan are beautiful only if they are allowed to play, to exploit the spaces, but this cannot always happen.”