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Will Joao Felix and Santi Gimenez Fire AC Milan To Top Four? (Clip From Q & A Pod)
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After AC Milan 3-1 Roma win in the Coppa Italia quarterfinal, where Santiago Gimenez and Joao Felix impressed, questions are being raised as to how well Milan will do this season.
The Italian Football Podcast patron A13X send in questions wondering what Nima Tavallaey and Carlo Garganese think of the impact AC Milan January signings will have.
This is an extended clip from this weeks Q & A episode of The Italian Football Podcast available only to patrons on Patreon.com/TIFP
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Transcript
Is Milan's Defensive Issue Perceived?
00:00:02
Speaker
Welcome to the Italian football podcast. Next question comes from A13X. He says, question for the Q and&A. At the end of last season, going into this one, the criticism around the Milan team was that the defense wasn't good enough. Indeed, Milan were in many goals last season, but I think that falsely led people to believe the main issue is with the
Midfield's Role in Defense: Kessi, Benassa, Finale
00:00:20
Speaker
backlight. Sure, the defenders are fantastic, but they're really not that bad other than Emerson and Calabria. The reason Milan can't be successful is the midfield. Milan was so successful in the Scoreda season and because they had two of three Kessi Benassa finale playing at all times.
00:00:33
Speaker
Those were three high-quality midfielders who loved to sit back, distribute the ball and position themselves smartly in case of a turnover. The positioning was so important because players like Théo and Liao loved to run at teams and particularly Théo gives up the ball in dangerous places a lot, since he's a defender but he's committed forward on one of his runs when he loses it.
How Does Midfield Loss Affect Defense?
00:00:50
Speaker
That was fine when you had Kessi and the old Ben-Aser in the front of the backline.
00:00:54
Speaker
Now, when Milan give the ball away, there's a giant hole in midfield, so the opposition is able to freely run at the back four, three, when it's Theo who loses the ball. This has happened way too many times this season and last season. Basically, the defenders are made to look bad because it's very hard to defend while backpedaling with an attacker who is space to run at you.
Does Milan Need a New CDM?
00:01:11
Speaker
Jean Felix and Santi Jimenez will offer some great firepower, but who is Milan going to start in center of midfield?
00:01:16
Speaker
For far-line rangers are both class in possession, but we know they can't position themselves well enough when mil Milan lose the ball. Coaches often tell strikers to play between the lines of defense and midfield. When they play against Milan, there's no first line of defense from the midfield at all. It's astonishing. What do you guys think of my assessment that Milan's main issue is the midfield positioning and anticipation of losing the ball? Do you think the lack of a proper CDM is why Teo seems so impotent lately? Do coaches keep telling him not to make those runs because we can't afford him to lose it up the pitch with his midfield? Do you also think selling Bernasse's madness even if he may not be the same player as before. Do you think Warren Bondo can offer some help there? I like this question.
Tactical Shifts and Transfer Targets
00:01:52
Speaker
I think it's an interesting one.
00:01:54
Speaker
Yeah, no, I agree. I've said for a long time now, I'd say it all the time that that Milan don't have a proper haven't had a proper CDM, somebody that can that can just protect the bat for and and screen it. And um that will include on the counterattacks and transitions where Milan have been have been harmed so much, because he'd so much through that, that through that area.
00:02:17
Speaker
of the pitch so you know they need a proper CDM. Ben Ece used to be that CDM before his injury unfortunately he's just not the same player anymore, he's not good and he's not mobile enough and he's just not the same player and that's why he's gone and and um so yeah they they they they need someone properly and I think that's why Richie is their their main target for the summer and if he comes in he will, you'll see a massive improvement in Milan with... But the thing is, ah rich reaching a 4-4-2... Reaching any system um would be what i think would would work. I think he's i think he's he's good enough. Fair enough. In any system. But I mean, Concy Sal seems to be moving more to a 4-3-3. That's what we've seen so far. yeah're Also going again on the Roma game. It looks like that's what... This season anyway, that's kind of what he's moving to. we' We'll see what he moves to in the long term.
00:03:15
Speaker
um on paper no I mean yeah getting rid of Ben is there because he is on paper that kind of player but he's just if you're not good enough it doesn't matter what kind of player if you're not good enough you're not good I don't think Ben is there he's good enough anymore um and so So, so yeah, we'll see. We'll see what Bondo does, whether he can, I mean, he's wanted by the clubs as well for Argentina. And we'll see if he can make a make a difference and and kind of fulfill that run. We'll have to see. But it is a
Impact of January Signings
00:03:43
Speaker
problem. But having said all that, I think, listen, what is Milan's objective for this season? It is to finish in the top four and um and.
00:03:52
Speaker
and the the signings that they've made in January, I think are going to give them a ah really, really good chance of finishing in the top four or in the Champions League position. you know Bringing in Karl Walker, who's definitely going to improve the defence, the right-back area has been ah has been a ah weakness, with whether it's Emerson or Calabria, and he's ah definitely an upgrade on them, even though he's passed his best a little bit. He's still a big upgrade on those two, so he's going to improve the defence.
00:04:18
Speaker
and And then the attack, bringing in Santi Jimenez and Giaul Felix, I mean, we saw already in that game against Roma in the Copa Italia, you know, they combined for the for the goal, Giaul Felix's goal, which was a beautiful finish. Milan have a lot of options, a lot of firepower in attack now. You know, when you had Rafael Liao, you had Pulisic, Chukwezi still there.
00:04:44
Speaker
bra or two against Roma, Kamada still an option as well. There's a lot of goals and a lot of creativity. And and and yes, there's question to answer some of these players, including Felix. you know We've seen his career and inconsistency. You look at that and you think Milan are going to score a lot of goals.
Champions League Optimism: Tactical Strengths
00:05:02
Speaker
um between now and the end of the season. I mean, I think Ranieri called them a great team. He says there's no embarrassment. I was losing to him. This is a great Milan team now with their signings. That's Ranieri saying it. And he's somebody that doesn't, he's not somebody that says things, you know, he doesn't exaggerate Ranieri. He's quite a level-headed person, isn't he? When you look at him, he clearly thinks they're a great team. So I think, yeah, if you compare Milan's business, say to Juventus' business, I mean, Milan have given themselves you know, the best chance possible to try and rescue this season and finish in the Champions League places. So, yeah, step by step. But if we're looking further ahead, Richie, for sure, I think is the man to go for. I agree with that. and And I also don't think it was a mistake to celebrate given his injury problems. And the only thing I want to add to that is I think Milan are going to go far in the Champions League. I'm not saying they're going to win it or even reach the final, but I wouldn't be surprised if they reach the semi.
Milan's Future in Serie A and Champions League
00:05:59
Speaker
They're a tricky side. And Konsei Sao, the way he plays, the the risk minimisation, the way that they can play without possession, the way that they counter-attack. The game against Roma was a perfect example of that. They're going to be a tricky side. I think top four for me now, them playing in the Champions League next season for me is a foregone conclusion. I think they they will completely do that.
00:06:24
Speaker
um and i I think they, you know, I think that they're finally addressing the issues that they haven't. And I think Jean Felix and Jimenez are, well, if there ever was, I can't say, a sour tack, it would be those two. I do see them playing a 4-4-2 with those two up front. And I think those two will be the starters, Santi Jimenez and Jean Felix. The good thing about Jean Felix is in order to flourish, he needs to play in a two-man attack.
00:06:53
Speaker
And which um so, you know, we've gone to sell could be the right man for him if he does, if he does use that that system and get the best out of him, like he hasn't been able to for ever since he burst into the scene. So so, yeah, um yeah, I think um Milan had ah had a have had a really good January. and they They got rid of everything they wanted to get rid of and they did it and they got some money back for them. um And they managed to address a lot of important issues. And that puts them a really aside from this season, it puts them ahead going into next season. Because when you go into next into the summer, you have the midfield and defence you need to sort out. um And you're already like you give yourself a head start. For sure, as long as they get into that top four. And if I'm Juventus, I'm, yeah, I'm worried. I think, yeah yeah yeah, they need to pray that we get five teams to try and give
00:07:48
Speaker
both Milan and Juventus a chance of, it you know, and then but there's also Laxio, there's Bologna, it's really, yeah, I think Milan have done well.
Inter Milan vs Milan: Tactical Shifts and Rivalry
00:07:55
Speaker
I agree. I think Milan have done really well and I think that what what they have done also allows them, like I said, it puts them in a good position going into next season and going into, you know, it puts them ahead ahead of in the summer already. I think they've done really well and they've they've they've they've you've got to give you know you' got to give credit where credit is due. I think this has this has been smart business.
00:08:17
Speaker
And with Atalanta out and Bolon, I mean Juve play empoli, Inter play Lazio, I think it's safe to say Juve will beat empoli and I think Juve will be in the final of the Copa Italia. But who out of Milan, Inter and Lazio, I couldn't tell you. But from an Inter perspective,
00:08:35
Speaker
i'd rather I'd want to avoid Milan at all costs in the Champions League. That's Inter's big seasonal target and Milan taking a dump on Inter's party would make them so happy. So, Inter need to be careful and I hope that Inzagi has done his homework and also the dynamic of the Milan Derby has changed as well in the sense that Milan now are just annoying Inter. They've gotten under Inter's skin and Inter don't really seem to know how to handle that just yet. And I'm worried that Inzagi is going to continue with trying to dominate them and play right into their hands. um So I want to avoid Milan as much as I can for the rest of this season, if I'm perfectly honest.