Maignan’s importance at Milan goes beyond saves | OneFootball

Mike Maignan has been one of Milan’s best performers in the first part of the season, thanks to his saves and impressive distribution skills.

The Rossoneri have conceded 14 goals in 11 Serie A matches, but their keeper, Maignan, has had little responsibility as Paulo Fonseca already warned his players, especially defenders, that they should be more focused, mostly on long balls and crosses.

The Rossoneri were held to a 3-3 away draw at Cagliari in Serie A before the international break, just a few days after an impressive 3-1 Champions League win over Real Madrid.

Maignan and Milan qualified for the Champions League semis in 2022-23 and hope to reach the later stages of the competition again this season with a newly formatted tournament. Their next European fixture is away at ŠK Slovan Bratislava on November 26, and fans are already looking at how to buy Champions League tickets for the upcoming match.

Maignan’s importance at Milan goes beyond saves

France’s goalkeeper #16 Mike Maignan (L) and France’s forward #10 Kylian Mbappe react prior to the UEFA Nations League Group A2 football match between France and Italy at the Parc des Princes in Paris on September 6, 2024. (Photo by STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN / AFP) (Photo by STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN/AFP via Getty Images)

However, before that, the Rossoneri host Juventus in a key Serie A game at San Siro on November 23, and Maignan will surely be one of the players to watch.

According to Sofascore, the France international has averaged 2.5 saves per game in Serie A this season, making 27 saves overall and preventing 3.30 goals.

His importance to the Rossoneri squad goes beyond saves, as the 29-year-old has also been praised for his distribution skills.

“Maignan was key as he was so calm and secure in starting the build-up,” UEFA technical observer Ole Gunnar Solskjær said after the Rossoneri’s victory at the Bernabeu at the start of November.

Milan had a “slow and controlled build-up when they wanted and then quick transitions when they felt there was an end product,” added the former striker and ex-Manchester United coach.

Maignan replaced Gigio Donnarumma in the summer of 2021, winning the Serie A title in his first season at the club.

The France international has kept 48 clean sheets in 125 games for Milan, conceding 130 goals.

His relevance on the pitch and inside the dressing room have convinced Milan to offer him a contract extension and Rossoneri Chief Scout Geoffrey Moncada recently provided positive updates about negotiations with Maignan and his compatriot Theo Hernandez.

“We started the negotiations two months ago, and we can say it’s going very well,” he said.

“I don’t know which will be first to sign, but we have started very well. Obviously, everyone is happy, I have not seen anyone who wants to leave. You can ask them; they are all happy here at Milan.”