Much to think about ahead for Leo

Milan surprised everyone as they started the match in blitzing form. No doubt, they were full of confidence and self-belief after having claimed three wins from three in the last week. Seedorf put Inzaghi through for the opener before Inzaghi’s flick on put Pato through one on one with De Sanctis and the Milan number 7 finished with aplomb. The game had only been five minutes old and Milan were already up by two goals. The San Paolo Stadium was silenced as it seemed Milan were on track for their fourth win in a row.

Match Report

But, after taking an early lead Milan decided to play catenaccio from the fifth minute onwards. A risky tactic considering how early it was in the match. As a result, Napoli were allowed to assume total control for the rest of the game as Milan were happy to play on the counter. Worringly, Nesta was taken off before the match was ten minutes old due to an injury. Let us hope that it is not serious.

Milan barely registered another chance on goal for the remainder of the first half and were really put on the back foot by their hosts. Countless fouls were conceded as Pirlo and Abate picked yellow cards. Ronaldinho was again struggling to make an impact.

Napoli came very close to getting the equaliser early into the second half. Maggio perhaps should have done better when Dida parried a shot to the feet of the Italian but with only Dida to beat, the Napoli winger failed to find the net. But to Dida’s credit, it was a great double save.

Dida was fast becoming Milan’s man of the match as he, shortly after, denied Gargano, Quagliarella and Hamsik with a string of saves as the ball bobbled about the area.

The disappointing Ronaldinho was substituted just after the hour. Flamini was brought on as replacement.

In what was perhaps the turning point of the match, Inzaghi was put through on goal by Ambrosini and went past De Sanctis but fired over the bar with the goal at his mercy. If Pippo had found the net, one cannot help wondering that it may have been game set match for Milan.

In what was a perculiar decision by Leo, Inzaghi was taken off for Borriello in the 72 minute. But it seemed Inzaghi had plenty left in the tank to continue and despite Milan’s lack of attacking adventure, Inzaghi had claimed one goal and was creating other chances with his trademark running of the last defender. Surely, Pippo should have stayed on perhaps for another ten minutes at least until when he really started to tire. But Borriello was brought on nonetheless and it came as no surprise that he would not get a single shot on goal.

Having picked up a booking in the first half, Abate was given his marching orders for a second bookable offence on 87 minutes. With Abate sent off and with time running out Napoli pushed even harder for the equaliser. And they got it on 90 minutes when Luca Cigarini lashed in a sweet volley from outside the area. Dida could do nothing. Just minutes later and it was another Napoli subsitute who found the net. From a Maggio cross Denis rose to steer the ball past Dida as again the Brazilian could do little.

Team Analysis

After going up by two goals early on, Milan adopted a catenaccio approach to the game. They were happy to play out the remainder of the match on the counter, soaking up the pressure from the hosts. Milan were clearly just playing for the result and for this reason I cannot wrong Leo. At this level, it is results that matter first and style that matters second. On another day, Milan may have got the result and we would all be celebrating now. But we did not, and for this reason, we have to look as to why.

It was always a risky tactic to play catenaccio after we had claimed the early lead and for two reasons. Our defence is not that great. Our full backs are liabilities and when Nesta was taken off early in the piece, our centre of defence was greatly weakened even though Thiago put in stellar performance and Kaladze at least did the minimum of what was required. But Abate, despite a good start, increasingly looked second best to Lavezzi whilst Zambrotta also struggled to contain the likes of Maggio and Hamsik.

Secondly, it was only the fifth minute of the match, there was plenty of time for Napoli to get back into the game. Napoli are a strong side with some talented players and they have a great record at home. The San Paolo crowd also helps their cause. Allowing them to attack you for practically ninety minutes is a risky ploy to adopt and even though we almost got away with it, the fact is we did not.

Despite the reasons why playing catenaccio was dangerous, again I am not in opposition to this kind of tactic in such a circumstance. But perhaps we did not go for the result enough. That is, why did we not bring on another defensive player to sure things up at the back then have both Pato and Borriello on in the the closing stages. Maybe Antonini should have been brought on instead of Borriello. For clearly Milan were going for the result and so if this is the case, why not just pack the defense and midfield and have Pato as the outlet for the counter attack.

Looking at how Milan played tonight one does realise that long gone are the days when under Carlo we played some of the most attractive football on continent. Today, with the squad we have, you will have to forgive me for accepting that such a pragmatic approach to the game by our beloved Milan is okay. Because for sure I enjoy a more romantic approach to the game, but this season we just do not have the ingredients necessary for such an approach.

Final thoughts

It is unfortunate to come away with only a point after we seemed almost home with three. An important match is ahead against Parma on the weekend. It will be a difficult task. The players are surely tiring and we do not have the depth to provide cover for them. For it is most likely that again it will be Pirlo, Seedorf and Ambrosini in midfield as Flamini will most likely revert back to right back given Oddo’s injury and Abate’s suspension.

So we have a number of concerns heading in and with the match against Real Madrid only days after, it is going to be some balancing act for Leo and a tough week all round.