The blow is a heavy one. AC Milan had a golden opportunity to build on the derby win, take advantage of Inter’s slip and close the gap to five points. Once again, however, they failed to rise to the occasion. Just like against Parma, when a home defeat arrived: this team still doesn’t look ready for such an ambitious objective.
What disappointed fans the most was the sense of superficiality -a lack of hunger in the way the players approached the match. Lazio, lifted by a fiery atmosphere, immediately looked more determined in the tackles, sharper in every duel and more eager to win the game. Considering the opportunity Milan had, such an approach is difficult to explain. Beyond the attitude, though, the first half also revealed a game plan that was very different from Milan’s usual blueprint. After a difficult start, largely due to Lazio’s explosive opening, the Rossoneri began to take control of the ball. Possession was rather slow and measured, but it gradually pushed Milan higher up the pitch. Out of possession, meanwhile, Milan attempted to press much higher than usual, accepting numerical equality at the back with their defenders -much like they did on Yann Sommer’s goal kicks in the derby.
- The blow is a heavy one. AC Milan had a golden opportunity to build on the derby win, take advantage of Inter’s slip and close the gap to five points. Once again, however, they failed to rise to the occasion. Just like against Parma, when a home defeat arrived: this team still doesn’t look ready for such an ambitious objective.
- Too much space
- Focus on the Champions League
Too much space
That is where the problems began. Before the trip to Rome, Milan boasted the best defensive record across Europe’s top five leagues, built throughout the season on compactness, communication and constant cover between teammates. None of that was visible last night. Milan were often stretched, disconnected between the lines and exposed to constant one-v-one duels, with no second defender arriving to help.
Koni De Winter was frequently drawn far away from goal by Daniel Maldini, allowing Lazio to vacate central spaces and then attack them with late runs from midfield. Often a simple direct ball in behind towards Gustav Isaksen was enough to put Milan in trouble, with no second defender arriving to double up on the Danish winger. That exact situation led to the opening goal, following a lapse from Pervis Estupiñán, who dropped too late to cover the space behind him. In a typical Milan performance, another defender would likely have arrived on the cover. Last night, that support never came.
Instead, it resembled the early months of Paulo Fonseca’s Milan or the final season under Stefano Pioli: each player left alone against his direct opponent. Eleven players, but not a team. As Massimiliano Allegri admitted after the match: “We conceded more counter-attacks in the first half than in the entire rest of the season.”
Milan repeatedly committed too many players ahead of the ball without maintaining a proper rest-defence structure — the defensive organisation required in case possession is lost. Unable to immediately recover the ball with an effective counter-press, Milan were repeatedly exposed to Lazio’s transitions in open space.
Perhaps the risk would have been justified if Milan had at least created plenty of chances. But aside from Estupiñán’s header, they were barely threatening in the first half. The ball circulation was too slow, and Milan rarely found the quick switch of play towards the flanks -a solution that often hurts Maurizio Sarri’s teams.
The struggles of Christian Pulisic and Rafael Leão, both largely anonymous in the first half, only made matters worse. Milan fell short in every department: attitude, strategy and technical execution.
Focus on the Champions League
In truth, the team may have buckled under the pressure of a match that could have propelled them towards a target they are not yet ready to chase. That would explain the nervousness, the lack of clarity and the absence of aggression and edge.
There is little time to dwell on disappointment, however. Fifth place is only seven points away -hardly a margin that allows for comfort. With three major clashes still to play (Atalanta, Napoli and Juventus), Champions League qualification remains far from secured.
Then, from June onwards, it will be time for reflection. This squad still needs a significant step forward.
