CorSport: Milan have ‘become an ordinary team’ with Pulisic and Rabiot – the reasons

The last couple have results have proved something that AC Milan feared: the team struggle without Christian Pulisic and Adrien Rabiot.

Corriere dello Sport report this morning that it is no coincidence Milan offered their least positive performances of the season against Fiorentina, Pisa and Atalanta, in the last three rounds of Serie A action. While they took home five points with no defeats, each game was a struggle.

It is  clear that Rafael Leao and his team-mates are struggling more at this stage of the season than at the start. The reason lies not only in the merits of high-quality opponents like Atalanta, but also in the measure of a squad that features just 19 outfield players when fully fit.

This squad – when affected by injuries, especially to key players like Pulisic and Rabiot – inevitably shows a decline in its value and potential on the pitch.

The wrong choice?

The decision to choose a relatively small squad was agreed upon in the summer between the management and the coach. Wthout the European competitions to contend with, Massimiliano Allegri deemed it appropriate to work with a smaller group of players, making it easier to manage the squad.

The problem is the variable of injuries, never truly predictable in its magnitude. Thus, after a disastrous October international break, the coach found himself with a reduced roster due to the simultaneous absences of Pulisic, Estupiñan, Rabiot, Loftus-Cheek and Nkunku, plus Jashari.

Photo by AC Milan

Above all, without Pulisic and Rabiot Milan have a lower ceiling. The Frenchman offered physicality, leadership and character in both phases, while the American offered work rate but above all consistent end product. Without them, Milan have ‘become an ordinary team’.

In the last three matches, Allegri has made only eight substitutions out of 15 available: three against Fiorentina (two of them in stoppage time), two against Pisa and three against Atalanta (one of them in stoppage time). It’s difficult to find the spark without fresh energy.

Some good news has arrived from Milanello: Estupiñan and Jashari will train with the team today and will be eligible for the match against Roma, although the Swiss will have to wait until after the break before being back on the field.

Pulisic has a slim chance of being called up for Sunday, more likely against Parma, where Rabiot can also hope to be available. For the next two matches, therefore, Allegri will have to hope that no further signs emerge of a worrying over-dependancy.