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There was a time when AC Milan used to dominate not only Italian football but also European football. Their intense rivalry against Inter Milan and some of the other European clubs was a treat to watch for every football fan. AC Milan had some big names in their ranks who had the ability to change a situation of any game with their individual brilliance. In the last 5 to 6 seasons the club hasn’t been able to replicate the same performances.
AC Milan last won the Serie A in the 2010-11 season and their last appearance in the Champions League final was against Liverpool which they won 2-1. In the last season, AC Milan finished 6th in the Serie A table while they were knocked out in the round of 16 stage in the last Europa League season.
In the ongoing Serie A season, AC Milan is at the 5th position in the table. AC Milan lost their Serie A game 0-2 against Juventus yesterday. AC Milan has to lift themselves up in the remaining matches so as to be on par with the other teams. Manager Gennaro Gattuso will have to pull up his socks if his side wants to produce some positive results.
His first aim will be to see his side finish in the top 4 which would enable them to qualify for the next Champions League season. Gattuso and the team management will have to ensure the team produces a collective effort in every department, especially in their defence which has looked quite blunt especially while playing against teams that are strong on counter attacks.
AC Milan also needs to play more attacking football and can’t rely on one or two players to bail them out from difficult situations. They need better co-ordination in the midfield too, but their main area will be their defence. It also depends on the type of formation Gattuso and the team management opt for while playing against sides who are quick during set pieces.
The players too need to show the intensity and have to keep themselves motivated in order to produce the desired results. Gattuso had stated that AC Milan is a side who can surprise any team if they play to their capabilities as the side has some big match players. We take a look at 5 such players who could be crucial for the side in the ongoing season.
#5 Giacomo Bonaventura
Giacomo Bonaventura was always known to be strong offensively as well as defensively. The 29-year-old is known to be a quick mover with his one-touch passes and has shown his sharpness with his ability to keep the ball in possession.
The Italian is capable of running through the best defences with his aggressive runs and can be a real threat because of his ability to move forward with his creativity.
Bonaventura could be an influential figure for AC Milan along with the experienced Ricardo Montolivo and Hakan Calhanoglu. Bonaventura scored 8 goals in 33 games in the Serie A last season with 4 assists to his name.
In the ongoing Serie A season, the Italian has already scored 3 goals in 8 games with 1 assist to his name and is looking in decent form. Bonaventura can also produce some wonderful long passes during the run of play.
#4 Patrick Cutrone
Patrick Cutrone is another exciting talent who is billed to be one of the most gifted strikers in world football. Cutrone has all the qualities of a typical no.9 because of his physicality as well as his ability to poach goals. The 20-year-old can be a thorn in the flesh for any opponent because of his ability to penetrate the rival’s defence with his electric pace and quick counter-attacks.
The Italian has time to grow as a player and can improve in certain areas. With Gonzalo Higuain by the side, Cutrone can gain valuable inputs from the Argentine playing alongside him as Higuain has loads of experience playing in the Italian Serie A. Cutrone can be handy because of his ability to move in goal scoring positions and his quality to win aerial duels.
Cutrone scored 10 goals in 28 Serie A games in the last season with 4 assists to his name, while he netted 4 goals in 9 Europa League games last season. The striker has already shown glimpses of his talent in the ongoing season too by netting 2 goals in 10 games with 1 assist to his name.
For a youngster like Cutrone, the figures are quite decent in terms of his age but it will be interesting to see whether he will be able to deliver during crunch situations.
#3 Hakan Calhanoglu
Hakan Calhanoglu was always known to be a player who was strong during set pieces and has the ability to exploit spaces in the opposition’s defence with his quick moves. Calhanoglu is a big threat because of his powerful free kicks and can play a crucial role in moving forward with his aggressive runs.
The 24-year-old was always praised for bringing a lot of intensity which helps in bringing the best out of his teammates. Calhanoglu brings a lot of variety in the outfit as the forward can outclass any opposition with his smart thinking and clever passing.
Calhanoglu can also drop deep with his deceptive moves which could cause problems for the opposition’s defence. The Turkey International will be a vital cog in AC Milan’s midfield. Although he could only score 6 goals in the last Serie A season in 31 games he contributed with 8 assists. In the ongoing Serie A season, Calhanoglu hasn't registered scored any goals in 10 games, but he can be a real threat on his day.
#2 Suso
One of the most exciting talents in the Italian Serie A, Suso brings in a lot of fluidity to this AC Milan outfit. Known to be a quick mover, the 25-year-old can outsmart any opposition with his creative dribbles.
The Spaniard can also link up quite well with the midfielders. The winger can also play as an attacking midfielder which gives the side a lot of depth. He can also operate smoothly on both sides of the flanks and can move into goalscoring positions with his clever moves.
Though Suso could only score 6 goals in 35 games in the last Serie A season he contributed with 10 assists. He has already scored 4 goals in 12 Serie A games in the ongoing season with 8 assists to his name. Known to be a busy player Suso can be a tricky player because of his intense running and accurate passing. The former Liverpool player can also be dangerous inside the box because of his goal-scoring prowess.
#1 Gonzalo Higuain
Arguably one of the best forwards in the Italian Serie A, Higuain’s arrival from Juventus has surely added a lot of depth in the AC Milan forward line. The Argentine showcased his true class with some superlative performances in the last season with Juventus.
Gonzalo Higuain will be the mainstay of the AC Milan forward line since his arrival could be a boon for AC Milan. Though the 30-year-old was out of form for a short period mid-season for Juventus, Higuain made a strong come back with some resolute performances.
He scored 16 goals in 35 matches in the last Serie A season with 7 assists to his name and could be instrumental in the forward line. He also scored 5 goals in 10 Champions League matches in the last season. In the ongoing season, the striker has already scored 5 goals in 10 Serie A matches with 1 assist to his name, while he has already scored 2 goals in 3 Europa League games.
Higuain can combine well with the midfield putting pressure on the opposition's defence with his counter attacks. He will be the guiding force in any of the successes that AC Milan achieve this season.
