AC Milan hit a new low on Saturday night as they lost 1-0 to bottom-of-the-table Benevento at the San Siro. The Rossoneri were unable to find a breakthrough after Pietro Iemmello’s opener in the first half on a truly woeful night for the hosts.
Positives
None. From the performance to the result, it will be difficult for Gennaro Gattuso to come away from the game with any positives to draw upon.
Negatives
It’s not just the embarrassment of the defeat that the Rossoneri have to deal with but it’s the manner in which it came, too. A lack of urgency and intensity was evident from the first minute, while they were devoid of any quality whatsoever in their attacking play.
Manager rating out of 10
4 —The players simply weren’t good enough on the night, and they will undoubtedly have to share the blame for this poor result. However, the lack of desire and urgency in the performance comes from Gattuso. Having switched to a 4-4-2, it didn’t work for him but he is suffering with a lack of options, too.
Player ratings (1-10, 10=best; players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)
GK Gianluigi Donnarumma, 6 — Had little to do other than pick the ball out of his net, but was alert when needed. Avoided an embarrassing own goal for his teammate with a last ditch clearance off his line, too.
DF Davide Calabria, 5 — Defended relatively well throughout and pushed forward on occasion. However, in a game like this, he needed to offer more width to stretch the game and have more quality on his deliveries into the box.
DF Leonardo Bonucci, 4 — Kept Iemmello onside for the goal and was generally poor with his distribution in starting attacks out from the back. As captain and a defensive leader, needed to lift his team but failed to do so.
DF Cristian Zapata, 6 — Used his pace well to sweep up in defence and looked calm and assured on the ball. Has impressed since coming into the side, albeit with an ongoing fear that a mistake is around the corner as it so often has been.
DF Ricardo Rodriguez, 4 — Lost Iemmello for the goal, and his shakiness in defence is matched by an ineffective presence on the left flank in an attacking sense. Looks nervous on the ball, and continued to loft hopeful balls into the box with no real direction.
MF Fabio Borini, 4 — Will always work hard for his teammates and put in a real defensive shift, but his lack of quality in possession is a huge problem. When played in an advanced role, he’s unable to have a positive influence on the ball.
MF Franck Kessie, 4 — Barring his effort which struck the crossbar, there was a lack of urgency and intensity from the Ivorian international. His physicality and athleticism to drive Milan forward from midfield is crucial, but there was nowhere near enough of it.
MF Lucas Biglia, 6 — Forced off with an injury in the second half, but before that dictated the game in his holding midfield role. If there was a criticism, this game arguably needed Manuel Locatelli in the starting lineup to offer more offensive quality to break Benevento down.
MF Giacomo Bonaventura, 5 — Had several efforts on goal but sent his shots straight at the goalkeeper. Another frustrating night for the midfield playmaker, as he continues to look a shadow of the player he is when he’s at his influential best.
FW Andre Silva, 4 — Failed to take his opportunity as Gattuso handed him a rare start. Couldn’t influence the game with his creativity and never really looked a threat to score either as this will undoubtedly set him back in the pecking order.
FW Patrick Cutrone, 4 — Couldn’t find a breakthrough despite going close, but there was aimless running from the youngster this time out as opposed to his usual hounding of the ball to set the tempo for the rest of the side. A disappointing night for him, too.
Substitutes
FW Suso, 5 — The Spaniard deserves a slightly better mark as he at least tried to make something happen. However, as has often been the case in recent weeks, he couldn’t find a telling pass or delivery to force a breakthrough.
FW Nikola Kalinic, 4 — Failed to pounce on a great chance to score and didn’t do a great deal else to force a way back into the game for Milan.
MF Manuel Locatelli, N/R — Picked up a silly yellow card for a frustrating foul, and looked short of confidence to try anything more than the simple passes.
Sumeet Paul covers AC Milan for ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter: @SP_Calcio.
Be the first to comment