MN: The one to give oxygen – why Jashari has a crucial role in the coming weeks

Luka Modric’s importance to AC Milan is clear for all to see, but he must also be managed carefully given his age.

As MilanNews rightly point out, the impact Modric has had at Milan has been immense from the start. He was placed literally in the centre of Massimiliano Allegri’s tactical plans as the deep-lying playmaker, starting every single Serie A game so far.

However, it’s necessary to ask a difficult question: how long can Modric sustain this pace, playing 95 minutes every game? The risk of fatigue is rearing its head, as the Croatian has appeared less precise than usual in recent outings.

The need to breathe

It’s unfair to call this Milan ‘Modric-dependent’, but he is about as crucial as anyone. His character, impact in the dressing room and his creativity on the field are what makes him a true modern great. However, Luka’s age, unfortunately, doesn’t allow him to play all the time.

While this wasn’t noticeable in the first three months, we’ve been noticing a slight decline in Modric for several weeks now. Thus, it is important that he is handled carefully, especially if the Scudetto dream turns into something more realistic.

Photos by AC Milan

Step forward Ardon Jashari. The summer signing is desperate to shine in this Milan squad for many reasons, including Igli Tare’s strong faith and the praise from Allegri. His high price tag and the excitement of the fans are a couple more factors that make Jashari eager to fully get going.

The serious injury he sustained at the start of the season has certainly affected the 23-year-old’s impact, but with an increasingly intense Serie A season playing out and the Supercoppa Italiana just around the corner, Jashari can and must earn his place.

Jashari has all the credentials to fill the Modric role, even if not quite in the same way. The Swiss knows how to dictate the pace and bring physicality with his tackling. Obviously, one major limitation remains: his fitness, which isn’t yet at its peak.

Starting with the home match against Sassuolo, scheduled for Sunday at 12:30 CET, it could be a good idea to see Jashari in that role, or even alongside Modric himself, a scenario that may seem a bit unrealistic at this point.