Modric: The Undisputed Leader of Milan and San Siro; All New Signings Make a Strong Impact
“Saint Luka” this time proved problematic for Bologna and uplifted Milan. After an initial misstep against Cremonese, the Rossoneri continue their march, securing a partial revenge against a team that had previously denied them the Coppa Italia, thus hindering a potential recovery of last season`s financial balance. Max Allegri`s animated sideline presence, indicated by his rotating jacket, is a familiar sight. While a red card is never ideal (and the referee`s decision not to award a penalty for Lucumi`s foul on Nkunku was quite surprising, especially after VAR confirmation), it shows that old habits die hard, much like Milan`s penchant for narrow victories.
It`s crucial to emphasize that a “narrow victory” is never mere luck. Following a promising opening twenty minutes from Milan, the play often became stifled and somewhat tedious, with Bologna attempting to control possession (though without creating significant threats). However, Modric`s goal revitalized the team, which then played with far greater fluidity, generating numerous chances (including hitting the woodwork four times) and ultimately fully deserving the win. The moral of the story is clear: quality is always a good idea. Milan triumphs thanks to its star-studded midfield, thus addressing a potential issue that might recur at San Siro. This is a team that tends to sit deep, win back possession, and launch counter-attacks. But when “Saint Luka” intervenes, everything becomes easier. Any lingering doubts about the impact of Modric (and Adrien Rabiot too) were surely dispelled after last night`s performance.
Modric, at 40 (and tired of age-related questions, though if he continues performing like this, we`ll keep being amazed and highlighting it), has already established himself as the undisputed leader, both of the team and of San Siro. He`s a true orchestrator, a master at winning back possession, delivering precise through balls, and taking decisive shots, like the magnificent one that settled the match. Rabiot also made an excellent impact: an omnipresent player, always the first to press, showing great desire, and capable of rotating with Loftus-Cheek as a second striker, thereby varying play and disorienting opponents. Quite an impressive debut.
While Inter and Juventus made minimal use of their new signings on Saturday evening (Inter started only Akanji, with rather unremarkable results), Milan, conversely, maximized the impact of all their summer reinforcements. The contributions of Ricci and Nkunku from the bench were also positive; Nkunku, as noted, even won a penalty. Given these factors, the Champions League objective appears entirely realistic, especially since the absence of cup commitments will benefit Allegri and allow Modric to always be at his peak, playing just once a week. Speaking of “Saints” (players who work miracles), the sour note remains Gimenez, who seems to be in a genuine crisis of confidence: hitting the post was a glaring miss. The Mexican striker can`t seem to find his rhythm, and Allegri`s next mission will be to rejuvenate his forward.
Among the league leaders, Roma failed to keep pace with Napoli and Juventus, suffering a deserved defeat against a solid Torino side and exposing all their attacking deficiencies. Gasperini appears to be taking a step backward: his choice of Dybala as a false nine might have confused his team, and his attacking unit certainly doesn`t seem to match the club`s Champions League aspirations. Conversely, Baroni is beginning to showcase his tactical approach, presenting a cohesive, focused, and never frantic team. Asllani provides order in midfield, and Simeone is performing exceptionally well. His squad reacted positively to their initial defeat against Inter and has proven capable of navigating a demanding fixture list.
