GdS: ‘Quality and substance’ – Jashari passes first test after six months without a start

A lot of eyes were on Ardon Jashari as he made his return to the starting line-up, and the first signs were positive.

As La Gazzetta dello Sport recall, Jashari’s last start in a competitive game was on 25 May, for Club Brugge. More than six months have passed since then, and this must be the first necessary condition to consider before analysing the Swiss midfielder’s performance against Lazio.

Added to this is his difficult preparation for the new campaign, heavily influenced by transfer negotiations and of course the serious fibula injury that sidelined him for three months. With all this in mind, the signs Ardon showed yesterday were encouraging.

Numbers speak volumes

It was a performance that started with some evident and understandable rust, but got better. For the same reasons mentioned above, Jashari’s performance wasn’t anything magical, but it was certainly solid and lays an excellent foundation for the future, as soon as he regains his fitness and confidence.

Photo by AC Milan

He made 80 successful passes compared to only six incomplete passes, two long balls – one of which led to the Rossoneri’s best chance, only to be wasted by Leao- and he had the highest number of successful tackles.

For the sake of a still young player who has endured a difficult few months for various reasons, it is correct to tread carefully with judgments and, above all, with pressure. Jashari doesn’t appear to be a timid character though, and working with Massimiliano Allegri should allow him to harness his skills.

It will certainly be important for him to get more minutes now, especially given the busy schedule. This will boost his confidence and he could prove to be a valuable asset in a long season that could bring further unpleasant surprises, especially in a squad as small as Milan’s.