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Some interesting numbers have emerged which highlight how Youssouf Fofana’s performances have changed without Adrien Rabiot.
The break comes at the right time for Milan after the draw against Parma, in which the team collapsed before half-time and were unable to salvage the situation. Massimiliano Allegri and his staff will work tirelessly to recover Rabiot and improve Ardon Jashari’s fitness.
The former Marseille player’s absence over the past month has impacted not only the team’s results but also their playing style, and it’s no coincidence that the Rossoneri’s best performances came when he was alongside Luka Modric in the engine room.
Rabiot brings leadership, technical quality and the ability to manage the pace of games, taking the sting out in the key moments with physicality and experience. Not only that, but he makes those around him better too.
The impact on Fofana
Calciomercato.com‘s Antonio Belloni has highlighted some very interesting statistics on Fofana, a player Allegri clearly considers fundamental to his Milan. Without his compatriot Rabiot, he becomes a different player and not for the better.
➤ Touches per game with Rabiot on the pitch (vs. Bologna, Udinese, Napoli and Juventus): 22-34-24-28.
➤ Touches per game without Rabiot on the pitch (vs. Fiorentina, Pisa, Atalanta, Roma and Parma): 52-82-46-28-53.
Without Rabiot on the field – someone who becomes an additional playmaker alongside Modric when he starts – Fofana is getting on the ball twice as much, despite clearly not having the skill set to be a creator from deep.
➤ Possession lost with Rabiot on the pitch: 4-4-4-3
➤ Possession lost without Rabiot on the pitch: 12-12-13-7-9
Without Rabiot, Fofana has double the amount of touches and triple the number of balls lost. The numbers show that he is a completely different player without his compatriot, in a disruptive sense.
Milan are now a much more tactically organised side (barring moments of madness) with solid principles that have improved the team. The returns of Rabiot and Jashari could also open up new possibilities for the midfield. One thing is clear: Fofana will have to work hard to keep his spot.
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