GdS: Allegri presents litmus test – Athekame prepares for chance to cap off big week

Zachary Athekame could well be thrust into the starting line-up against Fiorentina, and it would cap off a very memorable week for him.

As La Gazzetta dello Sport recall, Athekame didn’t even get a minute on the pitch against Slovenia in the last international game, but it was still a night to remember. Coach Yakin’s first call-up to the senior Swiss national team arrived, having picked him up while he was on a training camp with the U21s.

It also comes in the week when the defender could make his first start for Milan, given Alexis Saelemaekers’ issue with Belgium. In short, progress is being made for club and country, at 20 years of age.

Yakin’s faith

When Yakin called him up, he explained his choice as follows: “I have a defensive option with Jacquez and an offensive option with Athekame. It will depend on how the match develops.” But the coach had already spoken highly of him in the summer.

“He’s a very interesting player, I’ve been following him closely, and he’s showing positive growth. He has great energy and is tactically intelligent,” he said. In any case, the message is clear: Athekame is seen as an attacking wing-back.

This could mean that he replaces Saelemaekers well given he also pushes up, but he is nowhere near as experienced and Italian football punished ill-discipline. The Belgian’s issue means he could start or at least play a significant portion of the second half.

Photo by Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images and Marco Luzzani/Getty Images

So far, the Swiss international has logged 60 minutes of action across three matches, one in the Coppa Italia (vs. Lecce) and two in the league (vs. Udinese and Napoli). Allegri hasn’t made a final decision yet for the Fiorentina match, but Athekame is among his considerations.

Athekame has already experienced a tough situation: he came on against Napoli with Milan winning but down to 10 men after Pervis Estupinan’s red card. He wasn’t flawless, but in the end he managed to stay afloat, and Milan still squeezed three vital points from that match.

With a squad that the coach and management have deliberately kept small (there are only 19 outfield players) the coach has fairly limited options. Whoever is called upon, whether top-tier or reserve, must deliver an adequate level of performance. Over to you, Zach.