Former AC Milan defender Alessandro Nesta has given his thoughts on why the club are in the current crisis, pointing at the summer market and the ‘psychophysical’ condition of the squad.
Many hoped and thought that the Scudetto win last season could be the springboard towards a more ambitious chapter in Milan’s recent history, but it seems that the club has taken a backwards step since that point.
The Rossoneri now have virtually no chance to defending their title as the champions of Italy and they have missed out on two trophies in the Coppa Italia and the Supercoppa Italiana, while any hopes of going deep into the Champions League seem unfounded at present.
Milan are on a run of six games without a win and have conceded 18 goals in seven games in 2023. Nesta was a guest on Bobo TV with Vieri, Cassano, Adani and Ventola, and he spoke about Milan.
“What would I change at Milan? I would have done a different market. They had to reinforce the bench, they’re always the same and you can’t always go at 2,000 miles an hour for two years. Pioli has no players who enter and change the game,” he said (via Calciomercato.com).
“And then I would go all in on a centre-forward. Ibra and Giroud are their age now and at the 60th minute, after they also helped you in pressing, you have to take them off. We need someone who extends the team and scores. It’s time for the club to make an effort. After winning a Scudetto like this, you have to put in more money or at least clarify, saying we can’t spend and let’s go ahead with the boys.”
On the errors seen in the last few weeks: “I think the psychophysical condition is different compared to last year. They always play like this, they always go for the opponents high and go 1 vs 1. But in your half of the pitch you have to defend differently, they risk a lot and stretch too much.
“Also last year they were defending forwards but this year they don’t press so hard and therefore you’re in trouble. They stay halfway, in the middle of the ford and you pay for this. Now I think it’s due to tiredness and physical condition, but in the long run their football is not cheap, what they do in the long run you pay for it physically.”
On Theo Hernandez and Leao: “Theo and Leao are extraordinary players. I think the Frenchman is already ready for a big club, now he has perhaps played the worst game with Sassuolo but we have to weigh what he left behind in the World Cup. But I have no doubts that he can play for any club in the world.
“For Rafa I see it differently. He too, in terms of potential, can play anywhere but he is still missing a little something. He often doesn’t recognise the space, he’s strong with the ball at his feet but you can’t always take the ball and go. You also have to attack the space without the ball between your feet, make different movements otherwise the opponents understand you and stop you right away.”
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