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Santiago Gimenez’s absence continues as he works to shake off an ankle problem, and AC Milan’s attack looks weaker without him.
As PianetaMilan report, the Coppa Italia defeat to Lazio raised alarm bells for the Rossoneri. There are concerns that their squad may not be deep enough for the entire season, with Massimiliano Allegri’s alternatives currently not appearing to be at the level of the starters.
Up front, Milan are struggling to score, especially in close, tough matches like the one against Lazio. They’ve had good results in many previous matches, often winning 1-0, but when Milan are trailing, they struggle to find alternatives in attack.
The only striker
Since the Atalanta game, Allegri has been without Santiago Gimenez. It’s true that the Mexican has scored only one goal this season, and that was in the Coppa Italia against Lecce. There are growing rumours of a possible January exit, but the fact is that the Mexican is the only true striker.
It’s clear that the starting attacking duo is Christian Pulisic and Rafael Leao (when both are healthy), and there’s no getting around that. But Christopher Nkunku and Ruben Loftus-Cheek aren’t guaranteeing goals or anything else from the bench.
Gimenez has often started this season, given the injuries to Pulisic and Leao, but he could be a key asset for Allegri off the bench, especially in close games where Milan need to score and turn the tide of the game in the closing minutes.
Therefore, his absence paradoxically weighs heavily: without the former Feyenoord man, Allegri and Milan lack a proper striker, a player who can cause problems for opposing defences when needed. His ankle injury is a significant hindrance, so the hope is that he comes back firing.
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