GdS: Gimenez stuck in ‘crisis’ – Allegri could be forced into changes against Roma

The more that the games tick by, the more that Santiago Gimenez’s lack of goals is becoming a big issue for AC Milan.

La Gazzetta dello Sport write this morning that Gimenez has been in a tunnel for a couple of games, and now the more he runs, the deeper he digs. The impression that he is giving night by night is that he is getting worse, so much so that one has to question whether he needs a break.

The Gimenez ‘crisis’

Gimenez may be thinking too much and is certainly in a rough moment: after nine league games – eight of them as a starter – he’s still without a goal. He did score against Lecce in the Coppa Italia and for the national team against Korea.

For Milan, he’s a major exception. Their centre-forwards have all scored at least one goal by the end of October: Ibrahimovic, Giroud, Bacca, Piatek, Balotelli, even Morata, Luiz Adriano, Pazzini, Kalinic and Torres.

Massimiliano Allegri defended him after the game: “Santiago is an important player for Milan. He’s giving us a huge boost defensively, he’s giving his all, he works hard for the team. I’m very happy. I’m convinced he needs to focus on his work, and the goals will come. Together, we can only move forward.”

This was true for the first few matches of the season, up until De Gea’s amazing save against Fiorentina, in which Gimenez came close to scoring and also won the winning penalty. Sometimes he missed chances, sometimes he was unlucky, but he came close.

Against Pisa and Atalanta, he didn’t. He never looked close to finally finding the back of the net, because he was never dangerous. In fact, in Bergamo, he even seemed to be struggling psychologically.

Milan’s style of play certainly doesn’t help him (more crosses than balls in behind and never a sustained siege of the penalty area) but there’s something that needs to change in this story. Against Roma on Sunday night, the favourites for a starting spot will be different.

Changes in sight

The attack, by the way, deserves a mention. The last four Italian champions – from 2022 to 2025 – won the Scudetto with expected goals per game between 2.08 (Inzaghi’s Inter) and 1.42 (Conte’s Napoli). This Milan team, despite their excellent start, has a far lower value: 1.40.

They don’t compensate with shots on target, which are 4.44 per game. The Italian champions between 2022 and 2024 have always achieved above 5. What does this mean? That Milan aren’t very dangerous. Allegri defends first, and the team often attacks with improvisations from individuals.

Inter dominate matches significantly more: 1.91xG and 5.38 shots on average per game. It remains to be seen what Allegri will do to change things.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek came on well: he’s also an option as a starter. Maybe alongside Rafael Leao, with Christopher Nkunku an option in the second half. It will be difficult to do worse than in the first half in Bergamo.