Ricci and Jashari, equal but not too much: who will be deputy Modric?

There’s a hole to fill, there in the heart of the median. Modric’s knockout robs Milan of not only the supply of phosphorus, but also one of the Rossoneri’s top players: Luka will be surpassed, but right now he ends the championship early as the player with the highest playing time in the squad (2,789′, while in the season he is third behind Pavlovic and Tomori), with many regards to those who painted him as a deluxe pensioner. In the unpleasantness of the trouble, the only reason why Milan can find a partial consolation is that in terms of objectives the bulk of the work should now be done. There are six points left to take home in four games to settle in the VIP lounge of the Champions League, and it is a goal within reach even without Modric.

alter ego

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At this point the real question arises: who will be responsible for taking the team by the hand in the center of the midfield? Two names are dancing, and there are evaluations underway. One is that of Ardon Jashari, who appears to be the favorite both on the basis of the ways in which he has been used up to now by Allegri, and because it was the coach himself who in recent months had publicly christened him as the Maestro’s alter ego. The other name is Samuele Riccimostly employed as a midfielder. They have quite different playing characteristics (not entirely, anyway), Jashari has a greater predisposition to verticality, but they have in common the aptitude for the double phase: feet suitable for building and attitude suitable for protecting the defense. Because, as Modric teaches, when you occupy those territories in front of the defense, the work in non-possession is vital.

you drag

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Basically it should be clarified that both can be used both in the center and as midfielders. Throughout the season Allegri mostly kept faith with his tactical ideas on the two players: Jashari in front of the defence, Ricci as midfielder, even if there were some circumstances (for example with Verona at San Siro, Fiorentina at Franchi) in which Samuele was used in the centre. The difference in use certainly stands out. The former grenade has put in double the minutes in his legs so far compared to his teammate: 1,366 against 667, which becomes 1,165 against 487 in the championship. The causes? Partly due to technical choice, partly because Modric was immovable unlike Fofana, partly because Jashari carried the consequences of the fibula fracture at the beginning of the season with him all year long, which took him out of action for two months and severely affected his athletic condition. However, we are talking about two players in whom Milan has invested a lot: without considering the bonuses, together they add up to almost 60 million in cards (23 Ricci, 35 Jashari) and, in short, it’s not like they saw the pitch much in their first Rossoneri adventure.

reflection

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Furthermore, showing off in these last four matches will not only be useful to help from a Champions League perspective, but also from a ’26-27 perspective. A season in which Modric himself could pass away, who is currently still reflecting on his future. In midfield the situation certainly appears to be evolving greatly: Goretzka could arrive, in addition to Luka they could say goodbye to Fofana and/or Loftus-Cheek, and therefore Ricci and Jashari constitute important resources to grow and to whom to entrust the keys to the game. Four games are few, but they could already provide very interesting indications.