GdS: Milan ‘leaking from all sides’ – the horror numbers of the ‘sieve-like defence’

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·31 marzo 2025

GdS: Milan ‘leaking from all sides’ – the horror numbers of the ‘sieve-like defence’

AC Milan once again found themselves in a hole at half-time against Napoli, with the defence breached quickly and regularly.

This morning’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) writes that Milan are ‘leaking from all sides’, but above all the approaches to the matches and the defensive phase are worrying. Let’s leave aside, for a moment, the reaction of the second half with which the Rossoneri almost drew level.

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The first half was worrying, as happened too many times during the Sergio Conceiçao era. The numbers in the league and the elimination in the Champions League play-offs condemn the management of the Portuguese coach (after that of Fonseca).

Fourth place is unattainable, now nine points away, and now Conceicao has the chance to win the Coppa Italia, but that depends on a two-legged semi-final against Inter. Is it possible to beat the league leaders like in Riyadh? Football is unpredictable, but the odds are not in Milan’s favour.

A ‘sieve-like defence’

Including the return leg in the Champions League against Feyenoord, there have been seven games in a row with at least one goal conceded by the Rossoneri. It’s difficult to aim high when you can’t defend.

Does the constant rotation of the two central defenders also have something to do with it? Milan do not have a starting defensive pair. Theo’s closing-down errors are innumerable, but Pavlovic has also made mistakes again. Fikayo Tomori, who was kept during the winter transfer window and then used as a starter, has been on the bench since mid-February.

Just counting those in the league, the goals conceded are 35, which is far too many. The worrying statistic, however, is another one above all: in the 20 games with Conceiçao on the bench, therefore also counting the various cups, there have been just three clean sheets.

Wrong approach

We must also talk about the bad starts made, like the one last night at the Maradona: a horror first 20 minutes and the two goals scored by Napoli. With the Portuguese coach, it is the 12th time that the Rossoneri have gone behind.

It cannot happen to a great team to have to come back so often. Especially if you want to aim high, something that Maignan and his teammates can no longer do. At least in the league.

The Coppa Italia, if won, can still allow entry into the Europa League and put the 51st trophy in the history of the club, but the Champions League is a mirage. And without that, goodbye to so many millions of euros arriving from UEFA.

A bridge too far

Finally, the numbers against the teams that are above Milan in the standings speak loudly. In the 12 matches played so far against these teams in Serie A, the Rossoneri have only beaten Inter (in the year data) and drew against the Nerazzurri (in the return match), Lazio, Roma and Juve.

Of the 36 points available, they have only taken seven. And above all in these 12 games against their direct competitors, only once (0-0 against the Old Lady) has the defence not conceded a goal.