Milan, reserves don’t work: Origi, Rebic and Pobega in crisis

“Milan 2” exists and it doesn’t work, it doesn’t turn, it can’t be seen. And the defeat against Spezia is yet another proof presented to Stefano Pioli, who already has several folders on his desk by now. Empoli, Bologna, Cremonese, Spezia. When he deploys the reserves he doesn’t get results. He draws or loses. Leao out of action? Origi does not affect. As well as Rebic, Ballo-Touré, Vranckx, Pobega – who scored in Bologna and with Roma, partially safe -, De Ketelaere. Support problem. And “Milan 2″ does exist, despite what Pioli says. Before the match against Lazio he had answered angrily to a question about which Milan was 1 and which was 2. “They don’t exist. I know it will seem trivial to you, but I make formations to try to win games.”

Reserves flop

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The match before the derby didn’t give encouraging signs. Pioli lost Krunic and Messias the day before Spezia, so Pioli left De Ketelaere on the bench by placing Origi on the left wing. The manifesto of the Belgian’s match is all in a stretch in the 2 minute of the game, an idea that is also positive, appreciated, or rather that of identifying the space and making use of the long levers, but inconclusive in the execution. Origi lost the sphere and eclipsed from there. Against Cremonese and Inter he had shown good things as a left winger, the role in which he was launched by Rudi Garcia, but this time he remained entangled in the Ligurian net. The same goes for Rebic, who is no longer having an impact as first striker. The Croatian didn’t kick on goal. The only attempt was walled up by Amian. 4.5 game on the report card.

Pobega and CDK

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It didn’t go any better in midfield. Pobega lost 17 balls, a lot, and never verticalised. In Bologna it had been decisive, this time not. The last discordant note, the usual, concerns De Ketelaere, who entered the second half without making an impact. After five minutes he lost a bad ball starting the counterattack of Spezia, in an action photocopy of what already happened at the Olimpico with Roma. Wrong pass and Abraham’s goal. At the end of the game, reporting from the fans, he was there too. So far he has never recorded.

Only light

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The only one who offered some small signal was Yacine Adli, in presence number six in the season. In 2023 the Frenchman only played against Fiorentina and Spezia, but at the Peak he got some timid consensus. A good dribbling along the wing, a couple of right passes, an insistent action starting from the left. In a Milan where everyone has had at least one chance, perhaps the Frenchman would have been useful. Pioli only gave him one starting appearance against Verona and five clips. In La Spezia he placed himself on the trocar and at least he tried, but he too remained entangled in the La Spezia net, which at the end of the game brings up three fundamental points for salvation. All while Milan nervously bite their nails for the lost points. And the “Milan 2” cue again.