MN: Five subs in 180 minutes – Milan must give Allegri more options in January

AC Milan’s lack of depth can be highlighted by the substitutions that Massimiliano Allegri is making, or rather the ones he is not making.

As MilanNews report, Milan have made just five substitutions in their last two games. Three came last Sunday in the win over Fiorentina, two of which came after the 90th minute, bringing on a defender and a young player from the U23 team.

Two came on Friday night. It is a statistic that brings back into fashion – and perhaps had never gone away – questions about the depth of the Rossoneri squad.

Who and what is missing?

At the end of the summer transfer window, Milan were left with just 19 outfield players. Even without any cup competition and with the contribution of the young players from Milan Futuro, the feeling is that 19 was not enough, given that injuries always happen.

The axe of physical problems promptly fell on Milanello, with the Diavolo having to do without several players – many of them key starters – against Fiorentina and Pisa. Rabiot, Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, Estupinan, Jashari and Nkunku missed the game against La Viola, while the latter was back vs. Pisa.

While on the one hand Allegri and his team deserve applause for emerging undefeated, despite a skeleton bench, the players’ fatigue was evident in the second half and in the final minutes. This would have been a discussion to be had even if that chance from Saelemaekers had been taken at the end.

Photos: Marco Luzzani/Getty Images

It’s true that there has been bad luck, but prevention is better than the cure. Simply put: the squad is short and needs to be expanded in January. If Milan want to achieve the goal they’ve set themselves, they can’t find themselves in a situation like the one they’ve had in recent weeks.

Added to this is the fact that there are some clear gaps in the squad. Milan are ‘definitely missing a striker’ to provide competition for Gimenez at the very least, who hasn’t scored in eight league games.

The Rossoneri are missing a defender, a midfielder and a full-back who can be a reliable replacement for Saelmaekers. Igli Tare and his team will have to think carefully about all of this in January.