Milan has firmly established itself as a serious contender for the Scudetto. Matches like last night`s provide deep insights and reveal fundamental truths about a team. Milan demonstrated every attribute expected of a top-tier side: initial dominance in play, followed by controlled management of the game, and finally, immense resilience and suffering while playing with ten men. Their performance was marked by exceptional organization, strong personality, unwavering character, and extraordinary determination. This Milan squad plays with an almost fierce intensity, as if manager Allegri`s desire for vindication – his defiance against those who labeled him “finished” or a “dinosaur” – has permeated the entire group. Napoli was outmaneuvered from the outset; Milan was first to every ball and refused to yield an inch. This aggressive posture completely caught a defensively troubled and generally struggling Napoli off guard.
This is the quintessential Allegri Milan: a team that defends deep but remains proactive, launching swift counter-attacks with three or four players, expertly exploiting spaces, providing support, and flooding the penalty area when required. The squad fully embraces its tactical approach and the powerful motivations instilled by their coach, who, I`m convinced, has been telling his players since the very first day of preseason: “Show them who you truly are, especially to those who don`t rate you.”
Allegri`s tactics and strategies remain consistent, yet they are significantly elevated by extraordinary players such as Modric (who, even last night, was an absolute leader for almost a hundred minutes, including stoppage time, proving he`s far from retirement and outshining many younger talents) and other top-tier performers like Pulisic, who consistently delivers his best when playing in a linking role behind the main striker. Furthermore, players like Fofana, Saelemaekers, and indeed much of the squad are showing clear signs of growth and improvement.
And they faced Napoli, widely considered the strong favorites. I reiterate the point that performances and victories of this magnitude generate immense self-belief and momentum. Furthermore, without the burden of European cup competitions, teams can recuperate energy and train with greater focus and serenity, much like last season`s Napoli squad. This particular result could even be interpreted as a potential changing of the guard in the league`s hierarchy.
What truly deserves emphasis, however, is their character. Playing with ten men for 37 minutes, including stoppage time, the Rossoneri resisted with immense suffering but also with remarkable determination and clarity. While the suffering was undeniably huge, last year they would have been swept aside; this season, they stood firm even with a numerical disadvantage, and notably, without any meaningful contribution from Leao, who came on to help with counter-attacks but failed to deliver. I wasn`t impressed; while everyone else battled, he seemed to be strolling. On the positive side, he appears to be physically recovered.
I`ve been advocating for Milan`s Scudetto chances for a month now, and we`ve finally reached that point. It must also be acknowledged, however, that if this trajectory continues, the club will need to provide some support in January, starting with a high-caliber defender. But there will be time to discuss that further.
Napoli`s Disappointing Performance and Conte`s Tactical Choices
What`s surprisingly negative about this top-tier clash, this time, is Napoli. Specifically, Antonio Conte, whom I greatly respect and who isn`t even disliked by me as he is by many others, but I was unimpressed by him both before and during last night`s match.
Conte`s decision to start Marianucci was illogical. While it`s true that the two regular central defenders were unavailable, giving a debut to a young player from Empoli for Napoli at San Siro in such a high-stakes match was an absolute gamble.
Why not Beukema? Some speculate that Conte`s mind was on Wednesday`s Champions League fixture against Sporting, but if that were the case, it would be even worse. I was equally unimpressed with his substitutions. With a numerical advantage and Milan pinned back in their own area, I would never have withdrawn Hojlund; instead, I would have partnered him with Lucca in a 4-2-4 formation, employing a double striker setup. Even less comprehensible was taking off McTominay and De Bruyne to bring on Elmas; I would have retained at least one of them. And if Conte was indeed thinking about the Champions League in these instances, then such choices are detrimental to both competitions.
And De Bruyne could well become a contentious issue. Is there a lack of synergy with the coach? His substitution in Manchester already raised doubts (why not Hojlund instead?), and last night, the player clearly did not react well. Moreover, the understanding seems generally poor with all the new signings; they evidently need to grasp and integrate into Conte`s tactical world and football mechanisms.
Perhaps it`s time to consider reverting to a 4-3-3 formation occasionally? I would certainly reflect on this, as Napoli possesses numerous wide players, and adapting the tactical setup based on the opponent, thereby also allowing for rotation of key players, could prove invaluable. One poor evening does not mean Napoli should be written off as favorites; that much is clear. However, something must be done to regain their fluidity, without forgetting the significant absences of Buongiorno, Rrahmani, Spinazzola, and Olivera, which are losses no team can afford.
Serie A Landscape: Other Contenders and Concerns
The league remains incredibly unpredictable. Inter is making a comeback, as was easily foreseen. Juventus has numerous shortcomings in midfield, and their new attackers are clearly not yet up to speed – a reality some chose to ignore, but which is now undeniable. Roma is also among the top contenders; securing a victory after a demanding Europa League fixture was no small feat, showcasing an additional touch of Gasperini-esque resilience. In stark contrast, Fiorentina continues to disappoint negatively. They`ve endured their worst start in the three-points-per-win era; despite having the players, their play lacks coherence, and Kean`s zero goals are particularly alarming. Pioli`s position isn`t under threat, but with upcoming matches against Roma, Milan, and Inter, if La Viola doesn`t swiftly change course, it will be an extremely challenging period.
Incidentally, Pisa was denied a penalty for a very clear handball. Referees are a strange phenomenon; Rocchi had reprimanded them for a couple of errors regarding handballs in the box, and now, to avoid making mistakes, they`re not even whistling or “VAR-ing” the clear ones. Patience is definitely required…
