MN: Different ways to win – Allegri responds to Fabregas with 688-pass display

There was a lot of talk about the way that AC Milan won against Como on Thursday, and on Sunday against Lecce the script was flipped.

As MilanNews point out, against Lecce at San Siro, Milan completed 688 passes and won the match. Rounding up, you get to the fateful 700 mark cited by the Como coach Cesc Fabregas after Thursday’s game, in which he suggested there was an unjust nature to the result.

Massimiliano Allegri has taught us once again that there are many ways to win. Four days ago he did it with 200 passes and three shots, and then last night with with 700 passes and 25 shots. The important thing is to win – what counts are the three points.

A dominant display

Every match is different and has its own story, and there are many different ways to try to bring th result home. Milan have already had many different types of win, from scoring with their first shot on target to having to come from two goals behind.

There were also the games that they didn’t win, like against Genoa, with 33 shots and a draw at the end. In Como, the Diavolo had three shots, which resulted in three goals and three points.

Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images

Against Lecce, last night, the build-up was at times slow and predictable. After a sluggish first half, in the second half – as often happens – Rafael Leao and his team-mates stepped up, creating a flood of clear chances until Niclas Fullkrug scored.

From the 50th to the 54th minute, Milan created chances with Estupinan from a cross by Rabiot, with Gabbia’s first header, from Ricci’s shot, with Gabbia’s second header, Pulisic’s one-on-one with Falcone, Rabiot’s shot from an assist by Estupinan, with the furious melee just before Fullkrug’s goal.

In other words, the Rossoneri have proven inside four days that they can win ugly, and win by creating plenty. The end result is the same: three important points. It doesn’t matter how it comes, and Allegri knows this.