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It’s that time of the year, when we look back upon the season, either sighing at the disappointments, or reveling in the glories. Sadly, for Milan, it’s the former. Same time last year, Milanisti waved their Red & Black stripes all over the world in celebration, with some dancing merrily, while others danced to fulfill their promises. This year though, the very same fans have to endure watching the biggest club in Italy patch the ‘third’ star to their jersey. The fall from grace is distressing because a better Milan side has regressed this year. Cause for concern, really.
Were Milan that poor, or were Juventus that bloody good? A bit of both, to be absolutely honest. A simplistic reasoning would argue about injuries crippling the flag bearers from putting up a worthy challenge to the new breed of ‘invincibles’. There is a hint of reality in that argument. However, a wise man knows how to best utilize his resources. Massimiliano Allegri wasted his. Allegri appeared to be more concerned about his lifeline; the Muntari ghost goal against Juventus in Round 25 of Serie A. Harping on, and on about the grave injustice dealt to his team, Allegri failed to look past the incident and focus on the thirteen games yet to be played.
Milan conceded thirty-three goals in the league, a whopping thirteen more than the current champions. Milan, oddly, won twenty four games this season, similar to that of last season, but lost two matches in addition. All of this begs the question, were Milan really vintage last year, or was the league of a poor standard? The latter, I would think. This year, the league has become visibly stronger, and Milan, having strengthened over two mercati, stagnated in their mediocrity.
Players aged, the system failed, and new recruits warmed the bench. The story did not change in Europe either. Milan fortuitously scraped past Arsenal, and bowed down humbly to Barcelona. Milan’s main weapon; their attack, blunted in the last three matches of the Champions League, with one goal being scored over three legs. The defense however, conceded six goals, and looked highly capable of conceding more. The frailties at the back loomed large over Milan, the foundations of which earned the club their first Scudetto in seven years. Max Allegri and Adriano Galliani resorted to complaining about injuries and bad luck to camouflage a miserable season.
Coach Report
Max Allegri earned many plaudits after winning the domestic league in his first season at the club. A remarkable feat, yes, but the context of the victory was largely ignored. Milan won it in a year, when their closest competitors were Napoli and Lazio, with Inter making a late surge. Largely unconvincing in triumph, and rather bleak in draw/defeat, Milan limped over the finish line, pretending to have hammered their way to glory. Allegri’s provincial tactics had worked.
But this year, with an arguably better squad at his disposal, the tactician remained rigid with his system, failing to improvise, or even incorporate his recruits at timely moments. His ludicrous stubbornness cost Milan points, and eventually, the title. I wouldn’t go as far as blaming him for the defeat against Barcelona, because Milan had to play the best team in the world twice over six days, while hopping over to the Bentegodi in between. But his journey to the quarter-finals reflected an abundance of luck, and with it, stark incompetency.
His over-dependence on a certain Swede, who fortunately enjoyed the best season of his career thus far, placed Milan as runners-up in the league, and secured a berth in the quarters of the Champions League. At the risk of sounding silly, if Roberto Di Matteo could win the ‘cup with big ears’ with a poor Chelsea side, so could Allegri with this Milan squad.
Player of the Year
Zlatan Ibrahimovic. That should say it all. Had it not been for the centre-forward, Milan might be stuck in mid-table mediocrity. Ibrahimovic finished the season as the Capocannoneire with twenty-eight goals in thirty-two games. Those numbers are unheard of, especially in Serie A. Mightily prolific, Ibrahimovic proved to be the fulcrum around which average footballers such as Antonio Nocerino thrived.
He was pivotal for Milan in the Champions League as well. In his eight games, Ibrahimovic rippled the back of the net on five occasions and had four assists to his name. He redeemed the coach’s faith in him, indulging in the ‘give-it-to-Ibra-and-hope-something-happens’ tactic. Flourishing in a system which works perfectly for him, Ibrahimovic walks away with a price tag of exorbitant proportions labelled onto him.
He is rudimentary to Milan, a cog arguably more important than Thiago Silva, at this point in time. Is he irreplaceable? Possibly so, especially after his thrilling performance this season. Take him out of this current team, and one can only imagine the travesty waiting to befall the once star-studded AC Milan.
Follow Rajath Kumar on Twitter: @rajathkumar
