5 things from AC Milan's limp defeat vs. Sampdoria
Welcome to the 5 Things recap by theScore's Anthony Lopopolo, which highlights AC Milan's performances over the 2018-19 season. Here's a breakdown of Milan's 1-0 loss to Sampdoria.
1. Donnarumma's error proves costly
It's his mistake and he has to own it. Gianluigi Donnarumma had the option to play an easier pass out wide to Mateo Musacchio, but for some reason, he shot it straight at Sampdoria's runner. Gregoire Defrel stuck out his leg and physics did the rest. It wasn't so much a breakdown of Milan's system as it was a dumb error. Donnarumma has shown a lot more poise on the ball this season, but on this occasion, he simply blacked out.
2. Milan crumbling at the worst possible time
This was a completely unacceptable performance. Milan couldn't get the fundamentals right. They made poor decisions on the ball and gave away possession like candy. The worst part was their crossing, which was aimless and speculative on the best occasions.
It didn't seem like Milan had much of a plan at all. They should've known Sampdoria like to use a high press - it's common knowledge to anyone who watches Serie A - but Milan weren't prepared for it. They played scared throughout the match. They're trending downwards exactly when they need to be playing their best football of the season. Everyone's at fault here.
3. Suso too much of a luxury player
Vast swathes of matches go by without any meaningful contribution from Suso. He's just too inconsistent to make a difference. Manager Gennaro Gattuso seems to think the Spaniard will eventually come around, but at this point in the season, there's no place for anyone who's as out of form as Suso. He lost possession in some vulnerable situations Saturday, putting his teammates under unnecessary duress. His play in the attacking third was no better. The odd dribble isn't enough to justify his place in the lineup, especially when there's no end product.
4. Piatek too isolated up top
Krzysztof Piatek doesn't need much service to do damage, but he needs much more than what his teammates have given him. He deserves more than the hopeful long balls they've sent his way. Milan have relied too heavily on his moments of brilliance to get over the line; now that he's not scoring those otherworldly goals, the lack of service is becoming apparent. If they can't find a way to get Piatek more involved, it won't be possible to qualify for the Champions League.
5. Gattuso must find a solution
There's a lot of pressure on Gattuso to get this team back into the Champions League. His job depends on it. But the lack of composure his team shows is worrying. None of his players look at ease on the pitch, and it's worth asking whether he's creating the right conditions for them to succeed.
Gattuso has to find the right midfield combination - Lucas Biglia and Tiemoue Bakayoko didn't seem to gel - and get his wingers to serve Piatek. It's not only on Gattuso - the players have to perform. But it's certainly within his jurisdiction to formulate a better plan for the final nine matches of the season.