MN: A jammed cog in Allegri’s machine – why pressure is rising for Gimenez to produce

Massimiliano Allegri is a coach who puts trust in players but expects something in return. Santiago Gimenez must take note.

MilanNews writes that in the perfect machine that Allegri is slowly building, there’s one piece that’s struggling to fit right. Gimenez’s goal against Lecce in the Coppa Italia is too little to give him a passing grade after these first few games, especially when more was expected after a €35m+ investment.

If not now, when?

While a period of adaptation was more than justified upon his arrival, expectations for him from August onward were much higher. Six games are still too few to make definitive judgments, but it’s clear that ‘El Bebote’ must give something more.

In the side designed by Max, in recent outings, Gimenez has been given renewed confidence in a two-man duo. Yet, it is other players that have shone. Rafael Leao’s full return may take away playing time and opportunities, though the Mexican cannot complain about not having had a run of starts.

Allegri gives so much but demands returns. So far, almost all the players have implemented Allegri’s teachings on the pitch, according to his way of thinking and playing football. Gimenez must unlock himself mentally above all, because a striker is judged on output and zero league goals tells a tale.