Kessie To Barcelona

 

There has been lots of talk about how AC Milan management has a fixed number when it comes to transfers, renewals, that they have a little bit of room to work with but they’re not willing to break the bank on a player. Unfortunately due to this Kessie has just recently agreed terms to Barcelona.

 

The result of this policy has become a sore point for fans as it fosters an environment where players begin to run down their contracts, which the consequences for this we have seen with both hakan and Donnarumma have both now left the club.

Though it has been a exceedingly frustrating to see Kessie reject contract negotiations continually this season , now we have a conclusion and we can begin to prepare for the future, perhaps Pobega will be replacing him in midfield next season.

It should be noted that to Kessie’s credit for a few years he was one of the top players at AC Milan and last season he was the best player in the squad, playing a pivotal role in Milan’s qualification to the Champions League.

 

 

Though this season he has been in average form, including mistakes here and there he does have a lot of positive traits that will allow him to thrive at Barcelona. He can play among most midfield roles, is able to balance both defensive and attacking responsibilities, immense strength, ability to dribble  and can help keep team possession during a game, these will be key qualities that Barcelona will hope to exploit.  Franck however may also heed a good warning and that a Barcelona he won’t be given the same patience to perform to a high quality that Milan has shown him.

 

 Kessie has done well at AC Milan in a very difficult period and I am sorry to see him go, especially in such a bitter manner.  With only a few months left at AC Milan, let’s see if he can help give something back to the fans after such a year.

 

 

Milan Bound- Jesse Lingard

 

 

There has been a lot of rumors since December when he made his transfer request , where he would go. Surprisingly Man United reject his request and now it looks as though they will say goodbye to him in the seasons end, for free no less.

He has recently been seen hanging out with Ibrahimovic , who is a former team mate of his. Whilst it’s well established that AC Milan love a cheap or even in this case, a free player signing on!

 

What Qualities Does “Young” Jesse have?

Though it is a running joke about Lingard being a young prospect he is well established in his last 20s now , having been part of the United squad since a youth.It was last season where he was given a run with West Ham where he should he could be an elite player, 9 goals from 16 games in a support role.

 

His well established for his relentless and discipline pressing side of his game, where he is more reliable than other more flashy wingers in the premier league.He also is very good in his off the ball work in terms of defensive and offensive runs.  His passing is consistently of a decent level including in a high attacking team set up.

 

 Though he get’s a cheeky goal or two , he is not known for the flashy side of the game, he is more of a jack of all trades a master of none.

 

 

 

How Does He Benefit AC Milan ?

The English Premier League is the highest performing football league in the world where he has plied his trade throughout his career in one of the best clubs in his time. He would bring that level of experience ,match fitness and to be frank eyes to the AC Milan side that only Ibrahimovic meets. This would benefit Serie A overall greatly as Lingard has seen to be a meme of sorts .

 

Undoubtedly he would a massive improvement to AC Milan’s right wing side regardless if they stick with 4-2-3-1 or revert to a 4-3-3. Alexis and Messias Jnr have shown flashes in this season but neither is consistent in a game or over a period of games in both defensive and attacking responsibilities.

 

Though Saelemaekers is threatening in his attacking movements with dribbles that exceeds Jesse, he is not yet the final product and in this season has to be a degree been thrown to the wolves where at times his poor or slow decision making his hurt AC Milan. He also has disappeared in games all together whilst Messias Jnr can give you a few good shots a match he does fall short in doing this over 90 minutes and in fulfilling his defensive duties at times.

Jesse would in theory be of a higher match fitness level and should consistently provide more of a match presence throughout the 90 minutes. A lot would depend on him fostering a thriving relationship with the future captain Calabria who has proven to be a key player for Milan recent seasons despite not having a regular partnership with in recent times.

 

One area which has proven vital to AC Milan’s success this season as been the left hand side where there has been 14 goals contributed by Leao , Theo and Rebic, whilst the right hand side has only scored 7 . Messias Jnr who start the season late has 4 of these goals whilst Theo also has 5 assists alone which reveals a further story.  Lingard may not reach double figures in goals but he will automatically improve the right hand side and at a bare minimum cause more chaos to create more goals and allow Milan another avenue to score now that teams are beginning to double team Leao.

 

Lingard may yet sign on to United or stay in England for a greater pay day , however if the opportunity arrives AC Milan should definitely take a chance on this one.

 

 

Cagliari 0 v 1 AC Milan

 

AC Milan travelled away to Cagliari hoping to take 3 points and solidify and potentially boost their lead at the top of the table today. It may not have been attractive, but Milan found a way to get the 3 points.

The match followed a familiar pattern and habit when versing small clubs with AC Milan controlling much of the first with many opportunities which some from Giroud and Diaz that should have been goals. Despite Milan’s strong start , Cagliari battle hard and were able to cause Milan a lot of trouble down the wings .

Bennacer and Kessie did well to control much of the match with both providing attacking and defensive duties with Bennacer particularly influential. Leao tried to get himself in good positions but was often double teamed and tried to do it all on his own. That symbolised Milan’s first half with players trying to force a penalty or run through the box as individuals only for Cagliari defence to withstand it.

The second half was different tone with Milan employing a more fluid passing game, with many more players becoming more influential with Messias Jnr and Diaz becoming more effectively involved. Brahim was a mixed bag this match as too often he was bullied off the ball and his passing was either too heavy or too soft for it’s targets, he however did a lot of defensive pressuring in the forward half to win back the ball. It was thanks to his pass that Giroud used his strength to hold off a defender and flick the ball to Bennacer who slotted it home in the corner. Of all Milan’s opportunities tonight that would be the most difficult and the one that converted into a goal. 

Rebic introduction on the field change the dynamic of the match with his constant pressuring resulting in turn overs from the Cagliari defence and he was constantly providing solid attacking runs. Any other game Rebic may have connected with a pass to shoot it past the keeper or he would have assist to Calabria who in the dying minutes shot it directly into the goal keeper in a one on one opportunity. 

The second half was a much more positive display with a more fluid attacking game plan, it was disappointing to leave Cagliari in the game as they also had a couple of late opportunities which could have caused this to be a draw. AC Milan need to kill these games off as these smaller teams are still capable of catching you as Spezia so wonderfully illustrated.

 

Player Ratings

3. Bennacer
The man was everywhere tonight, fulfilled his defensive and attacking duties and even scored the winner.

2. Theo Hernandez
Though he could not provide a goal or assist, he was constantly pushing in the attacking half and though he overdid his runs , any other day he could have scored.

1. Tomori
Even though this could have easily been Kessie, Tomori kept his composure in defence and was often used to help start an attacking movement from the back.