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Arrigo Sacchi has revealed his belief that AC Milan must consider themselves in the Scudetto race, even if the club won’t publicly declare it.
Milan produced a stunning turnaround to put their Torino taboo to bed, coming from two goals behind to win 3-2 and retake top spot in the Serie A table, after Inter and Napoli had both won their respective games over the weekend.
It was a nightmare start for Milan as a Nikola Vlasic penalty and a Duvan Zapata goal put the Granata two goals up after just 17 minutes. Adrien Rabiot’s beautiful long-range strike was the quick response needed, and then the ever-decisive Christian Pulisic scored a brace off the bench to complete the turnaround.
‘The Rossoneri can fight for the title’
Sacchi published his weekly column for La Gazzetta dello Sport after round 14 in Serie A, and he spoke about the three-horse race that has emerged for the Scudetto.
“Serie A features a three-man attack. Napoli and Milan lead the table, with Inter a point behind. The Rossoneri’s win at Torino confirms their draw with Conte’s team and suggests they should be taken seriously when making predictions for the Scudetto.
“They have no international commitments, were eliminated from the Coppa Italia, and can now focus fully on the league, with nothing else on their minds. This isn’t a minor detail, but a point in the Rossoneri’s favour, as, compared to their rivals, they can arrive fresher in the spring, the period when everything is decided.
“If you look at Milan’s performance this season, the first thing that stands out is their renewed consistency compared to the recent past. The players now know what they have to do and how they have to do it, they know how to suffer, and they try to move as a unit.
“Sometimes they are more brilliant, sometimes less so (as in the first half last night), but the important thing is to have the vision that points the way forward. Allegri deserves credit for having been able to build a project in just a few months, motivating the entire team.
“The first twenty minutes against Torino were a nightmare for Milan. The teams were too far apart, they lacked connection, and therefore synergy, and, in my opinion, they were even too complacent in their approach to the match. At a certain point, I asked myself: how can they turn things around now?
“I admit I thought they wouldn’t be able to come back, especially since I saw the Granata running at full speed and winning every duel. But Rabiot’s goal kept the Rossoneri in the game, rekindled their hopes, and at half-time, once they had gathered their thoughts (which were quite confused), they created a small masterpiece.
“The team’s determination to clinch the result was immediately evident: they forced their opponents onto the defensive, forced them to stay in their own half, and didn’t even allow a counterattack. And then Pulisic’s introduction did the rest. The American is truly an added value for the Rossoneri.
“Without Leao, who was injured, and with only Nkunku to carry the weight of the attack, Milan never managed to create verticality and create any danger for Torino. Pulisic provided energy, creativity, and a solid performance in front of goal.
“Raise your hand if you thought Milan would win after the first twenty minutes: no one, probably not even Massimiliano Allegri. Yet, with strength of character and determination, with anger and, above all, with determination, the Diavolo took the victory and the top of the table.
“In terms of play, in my opinion, there is a lot of work to be done because some things need to be fixed, especially when opponents cross from the wings and defenders are often caught in the wrong positions.
“Furthermore, the manoeuvring needs to be quicker and more vertical: the ball, especially in the first half, was moving too slowly, favouring the positioning of the Torino defenders. However, we can (and must) take a step forward in these areas, and I’m sure that Allegri, an experienced coach who is excellent at correcting mistakes on the fly, will be able to find the right remedies.
“It’s logical now to wonder how far this Milan team can go. Football is too slippery to make any definitive predictions, but as I said before, the Rossoneri can fight for the title right to the end. If, in the January transfer window, they acquire a striker, which this team desperately needs, then the horizons could be bright.
“Napoli and Inter, who I consider the best equipped to win the Scudetto, would do well not to underestimate the growth of this Milan team. I wouldn’t be surprised if, come spring, we find ourselves with Milan leading the way and the others fighting hard to catch up.”
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