The first five of the minutage rose are players who in the last year and a half seemed destined to greet or to the bench. Because not all summer revolutions are necessarily passing from purchases …
Summer revolutions in football do not only mean taking a new face after the other from the market, trying to raise the average quality and impact of the team. Often the streets of the ball are indecipherable and centrifuge hierarchies. Certain convictions that seem carved in stone in June, in September they are no longer such. So it may happen that someone potentially intended for a year full of question marks becomes a corner stone. And also that someone potentially intended for greetings not only remains, but makes him the protagonist. In this Milan that is giving so far great satisfactions after being deeply remitted by management and coach, there is a fact that stands out and makes a certain effect: the first five for minutage of the rose, are players who belong to one of the two categories that we have just mentioned. They could change the air, but they did not do it; They would theoretically have to start in the second row, but it didn’t happen. And let’s speak, in order of use, of Tomori (594 ‘), Saelemaekers (556’), Pavlovic (551 ‘), cage (540’) and Gimenez (533 ‘).
numbers
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A first explanation certainly comes from the length of the squad. Or rather: from restrictive. Nineteen movement players are a small number, which, moreover, between various injuries and disqualifications, is not even easily accessible. It means that, even without European commitments, all over the season have large possibilities to put several minutes in the legs. A second explanation, relevant to the defense, lies in the game system: the 3-5-2 requires a line of three plants unlike the 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3, and therefore a greater use of defenders. The ranking of employment is therefore commanded by Tomori. Player far from unwatchable (nobody was actually this summer), several times one step away from emptying the locker to Milanello. For example, between December 2024 and early January 2025, when Milan had found a draft agreement with Juve for a figure between 25 and 30 million. Then, a few weeks later, it was the turn of Tottenham: agreement between Milan and Spurs for 26.5 million, but also in that case nothing done. As is clearly understood, the player’s will not to separate from the devil was decisive. Now, even without having returned the Scudetto vintage dam, a fixed point of the backward package has returned. Indeed, with Allegri he also discovered new tactical solutions, which allow him to release himself like a side.
Coda titles? No
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After Fik the most employed is Saelemaekers. Obvious observation, to be said observing the average (and quantity) quality of its performance. Less obvious, however, considering that along its pilgrimage away from Milan, the first of the two loans – the one in Bologna – was characterized by the right of redemption. Milan could have lost it definitively and the feeling was that his adventure in the Rossoneri was to the credits. The Belgian, on the other hand, highlighted both in Bologna and in Rome (dry loan), convincing management and coach to focus on him. Returning to defense, Pavlovic’s evolution is definitely noteworthy. Last season, while putting together a good number of matches as a starter, under Fonseca and Conceiçao has almost divided the minutage with Thiaw and Tomori, while now it is a column without if and without but. Also to him, like Tomori, Allegri has entrusted new tactical deliveries: now it is frequent to see him go to the band to increase offensive solutions. As for cage, behind it is undoubtedly the most orderly and disciplined central (in addition to being one of the most shiny carriers of Milanism). But in the summer he seemed to be destined for a role especially as a reservist, when everyone was waiting for a very first band that did not arrive. Now Matteo commands a defense that in seven games has grossed only three goals (one of which on penalty) and put together five Clean Sheet. Finally, Gimenez. He was with one and a half foot outside the door of Milan practically until the latest hours of the market, when he had been in person to reveal the possible exchange between the Mexican and Dovbyk. I then faded, also because Santi vigorously clarified that he wanted to stay at Milan to play his cards. Partner in pectore A titular: so far Saints have taken the field from the first minute in six out of seven games.
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