Another flop. Milan didn't go beyond a gray 0-0 draw against Chievo, a result that is practically as good as a defeat. In two weeks the Rossoneri erased all the good work done in the second round, sinking to 11 points behind Roma and 6 behind Fiorentina and Inter. Once again, right at the moment of the decisive acceleration, the team has betrayed expectations, only now there is no more time to make up for it. Everyone at Milan knows this, from the president to the players, obviously passing through the coach: in fact, Mihajlovic is the one who risks paying the heaviest bill.
The 0-0 of Bentegodi is the result, as well as a good dose of bad luck, above all of the lack of malice and desire to win, qualities that Sinisa thought he had transmitted and which instead, just like in Reggio Emilia, remained in the locker room. "It will be difficult to do more with this team" the coach would have let slip to a Mediaset correspondent, words promptly denied by the Rossoneri press office. The substance, however, does not change: Milan have disappointed and now they are all on the grill, without exception.
“We always say the same things and continue to leave points on the pitches within our reach – Abate vented. – Without malice you don't go anywhere, you have to honor the shirt and spit blood”. The harshest accusations, however, came from Abbiati, who replaced Donnarumma yesterday: “The team had an unacceptable attitude, I have almost no words to justify the first half hour. And then I'm really tired of seeing teammates who answer to the coach".
Any reference to Menez (replaced in the 60th minute with Luiz Adriano) is by no means accidental, demonstrating a changing room in turmoil and anything but serene. Reggio Emilia and Verona have uncovered the Rossoneri vase, on the other hand collecting just 1 point between Sassuolo and Chievo is certainly synonymous with failure. It was understood from the beginning that it wouldn't be an easy Sunday, when Mihajlovic first lost Kucka in finishing (discomfort in the right thigh flexor), then Donnarumma after less than 20' of the match (fortunately harmless headshot).
The 4-3-3 plans fell through and Milan returned to the classic 4-4-2, with Poli and Bertolacci in midfield and the Bacca-Menez duo in attack. The first half slipped away in general mediocrity, but if you can't blame the hosts for anything, it's not the same for the guests, in theory much more interested in the 3 points. In the second half the pace picked up a bit and the Rossoneri, at least, were getting close to the opening goal.
The mother of all occasions arrived in the 74th minute with a sensational double cross signed by Abate-Bertolacci, on which Bizzarri could have done nothing. It would have been the 1-0 goal and perhaps now we would speak differently. But the gods of football obviously don't want to help this Milan, too sad and gray to appeal to bad luck.
