After yet another disappointing display, this time against Real Betis at San Siro, AC Milan have lost two consecutive games for the first time this season, with the pressure reportedly mounting on Gennaro Gattuso.
The Rossoneri failed to live up to their normal standards, much like in the derby, and deservedly lost against Real Betis, who frankly dominated Gattuso’s men up until the 80th minute. Only in the last ten minutes did Milan show up, with Cutrone playing an important role in this lift, getting himself on the scoresheet off the bench once again.
With that said, Gattuso has received a lot of criticism for the team’s approach in the last two games, while several outlets have also reported that he’s now on the brink of getting axed, should things not change. It is believed that the next two games, against Sampdoria and Genoa at San Siro, will be decisive.
Therefore, the Rossoneri will be looking to grab six out of six points to forget about the slump they’re currently experiencing. In fact, six points would put them in fifth place, maybe even fourth, depending on how Lazio get on versus Inter. As you then might understand, the team shouldn’t be too worried about the season this early, but rather focus on the task in hand.
After the Europa League clash against Real Betis, Gattuso made it clear that they will need to find a solution to their issues, as he believes the team’s approach has drastically changed in the last two weeks.
“It doesn’t even look like the same team we saw a couple of weeks ago. We must find out the right solution to improve. It’s above all a psychological problem, as we can’t seem to react. We don’t control the tempo or the game. We couldn’t create anything with the ball at our feet,” Gattuso stated.
According to reports, one major change could be made for the Sampdoria game, relating to the team’s formation. In fact, Higuain and Cutrone will most likely start, forming a duo up front in a 4-4-2 system, which is something that fans have been calling for since long ago. Even though the 4-3-3 formation historically has worked well under Gattuso’s reign, while favouring players such as Suso and Kessie, you can understand why the 40-year-old is keen to make the change.
The team seemingly receives a boost in confidence whenever Cutrone steps on the pitch, as he has a natural way of motivating his teammates through his work ethic. In addition to this, Higuain has certainly proved that he’s more than capable of playing with the youngster, acting more as a creative force. However, it should also be mentioned that Suso has previously not flourished in a four-man midfield, which could spark interesting discussions, although it remains to be seen how he will get on.
In conclusion, the last two games have been anything but good for Gattuso’s men. However, it’s important to remember that the season is not yet over, and Milan have a good chance of reaching the Champions League zone with six points in their next two games, both of which will be played at San Siro.
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