Other than Champions comeback! Milan didn't go beyond a gray 0-0 draw against Carpi and were forced to review their plans, at least immediately. In fact, the Rossoneri Christmas will hardly be close to the first ones and this regardless of a favorable calendar. It's useless to make calculations of any kind if you don't win matches like this, against a clearly inferior opponent however willing and well placed on the field.
Milan lacks technical and psychological continuity, a dangerous combination for those aiming for the noble areas of the standings which, not surprisingly, are a long way from their current position. Mihajlovic's team, thanks to the "coups" of Sassuolo and Atalanta, is now in eighth place, minus 7 from third-placed Napoli and even minus 9 from leaders Inter. Very disappointing balance sheet, just like Modena's performance.
“These are two points thrown away – admitted Sinisa at the press conference. – We had to win but unfortunately we didn't succeed. We tried in every way but we lacked malice and initiative. An invention would have been needed to unlock the game, but it didn't arrive. I'm not angry, just sorry." In fact it was a flat Milan, unable to mess up Carpi's tactical plan made up of defensive organization, heart and counterattacks.
The Rossoneri almost never managed to make themselves dangerous and indeed ended up suffering Castori's team much more than they should. The first half hour was all in the name of Carpi, stopped only by a great Donnarumma (his save on Lollo's shot was splendid) and by the imprecision of Borriello and Lasagna, very good at getting their teammates to play, a little less at finishing in brings.
In the second half, however, Milan came out a little more, undoubtedly the team with the greatest need to win, at least on paper. Mihajlovic, initially focused on the 4-4-2 already seen (with quite different results) against Sampdoria, tried to liven up the game by inserting Luiz Adriano for Cerci, thus switching to a more offensive 4-2-3-1 but the result it hasn't changed.
The Rossoneri only came close to scoring in the final, when Kucka and Luiz Adriano, following a corner kick, forced Belec to two “paratissimi”. “Compared to the last match there was a step backwards – commented Mihajlovic. – There we were good at unlocking it, but here we didn't succeed and the judgment obviously changes”.
In short, from the compliments, we rightly move on to the criticisms also remembering when it happened during the week, with Milan forced into extra time by Crotone in the Italian Cup. He remains bitter in the mouth for a colorless performance, despite the results of the competitors (and the imminent direct clashes) suggest a very different character. In addition to the game, the Rossoneri lack the typical fire of the big teams: a big problem for a coach like Mihajlovic, wanted by Berlusconi for this very reason.
