GdS: The winning duo – how Modric and Rabiot continue to transform Milan

AC Milan decided to almost entirely rebuild their midfield in the summer, and from that two leaders have emerged: Luka Modric and Adrien Rabiot.

As La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) report, Modric and Rabiot have become the ‘cornerstones’ for a Milan side who are tied for first place with Napoli. Massimiliano Allegri has only been able to field them together from the start in his midfield in seven of the 14 league games, and the numbers are clear.

Milan have obtained 19 points when the duo start together, and 12 when the pairing was split due to Rabiot’s injury. Projecting the data over 38 games, with Adrien and Luka in the side, the Rossoneri would finish on 103 points at the current pace. Without either of them, it would be 65.

The need for character

It was clear that the spark between the two had ignited immediately in their debut against Bologna. Rabiot had just arrived on the scene in the final days of the transfer window, while doubts still lingered over Modric’s age and fitness.

The 90 minutes against the Rossoblu, marked by the Croatian’s match-winning goal, were the prelude to the great points haul that followed and gave everyone in the squad the unshakeable certainty that the two had significantly raised their game.

The hesitant team seen in the opening match against Cremonese – and to some extent also in the victory against Lecce – suddenly became solid, balanced and successful. The presence of champions is not only useful from a technical and tactical standpoint: above all, it inspires confidence.

It’s no coincidence that with them on the pitch, the attentiveness of their team-mates was raised to the point of conceding just one goal (De Bruyne’s penalty) against Napoli, Juventus and Inter. The goal from Duvan Zapata on Monday was the first from open play with Modric-Rabiot starting.

Winning habits

Milan were a bit slow to get into the game in Monday night’s victory, but it’s equally true that one of the two players was the one who woke them up. Rabiot’s unusually powerful left-footed shot that beat Israel was the first positive turn of the night.

“We needed a game-changing move,” Adrien stated after the game. Yes, the Frenchman had saved it for when it mattered. Before the away match against the Granata, he hadn’t found the back of the net once in the league.

It was an anomaly, for a complete midfielder like him, that was rectified at the first opportunity and with even a pre-match prediction from Massimiliano Allegri: “Rabiot is improving his condition, the goals will come.”

When it comes to mentality, there’s no doubt that the secret to this league-leading Milan side lies largely in Modric and Adrien. After all, no one in the squad has won as much as they have.

The 2018 Ballon d’Or winner boasts 34 career trophies between Dinamo Zagreb and especially Real Madrid, with whom he became the all-time record holder in Champions League trophies (six, tied with Gento, Carvajal, Nacho and Kroos).

Rabiot’s record also isn’t bad: 21 trophies with PSG, Juventus and France. In total, that’s 55 trophies (in addition to those that Allegri has) for a team that last season struggled to read the moments of the game and react accordingly.

In football, as in life, experience certainly helps you give your best. As Rabiot said: “Modric loves football like a boy, I want to be like that too at his age.” For now, Milan fans can enjoy them together.