Davy & Chin Talk A.C Milan Weekly
Davy & Chin Talk A.C Milan Weekly
From Serie A Struggles to Champions League Hopes. Davy & Chin Previews Real Madrid Vs AC Milan
Join Davy & Chin and me as we unravel Milan's recent highs and lows, from challenging coaching dynamics to mixed emotions about our beloved team's performance. We've hit a milestone ourselves, reaching our 50th podcast episode with over 2,500 downloads—thanks to you, our loyal listeners!
Since when did Milan's midfield become such a puzzle? As we dissect the team's ongoing struggles, particularly in defense and midfield, you'll learn about the dynamics between key players like Rafael Leao and Fonseca's controversial tactical choices. We'll navigate through the complexities of recent matches, highlighting a disheartening loss to Napoli and a shaky win against Monza. Questions loom over Leao's defensive contributions, and Fonseca's attempts to fortify the backline with players like Malik Thiel haven't gone unnoticed.
The looming challenge of facing Real Madrid in the Champions League beckons with all its unpredictability and excitement as we look ahead. Can we balance cautious optimism with hopeful expectations for Milan's future on the European stage? We'll explore contrasting opinions and predictions, pondering the influence of players like Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic. Together, let's revel in the beautiful chaos that is football and the rollercoaster ride that is Milan's journey.
The Rossoneri Renaissance is complete After 11 years. Once again, milan are the champions of Italy. It's they who wear the crown for the 2021-22 season. Hello everyone, this is Devon Chin. Talk Milan. And we are back again, chin. What's up, man Hi Dev? How are you this time? I's up, man Hi Dave. How are you this time? I don't even know how I feel today, honestly speaking.
Speaker 2:You're like a Janko and Hyde. Emotionally, you complain about Fonseca. What do you call him? Fonseca Scatter, or whatever you call him, he's Fonseca. The guy's just scattering everything, to be honest. And then Milan wins and then you go back to you know, looking for something else to blame.
Speaker 1:To be honest, maybe that's how you feel, which is okay for you to feel like that, because you can tell that my reaction these days has not really been the best after every game. I know sometimes I let my emotions, you know, to get some part of me, you know, and I'll accept that. But in all honesty, nobody can tell me that we're playing fine, so I have every reason to be upset too Well again, I don't know who you are.
Speaker 2:I don't know who you actually think you're fighting, because somehow I feel like you. You know, since I was on the other side of the discussion around purely you assume that everything I'm going to fight with you. I'm not here to fight with you. I will never fight with you about facts.
Speaker 2:Milan hasn't been good under Fonseca. There's no difference between that and what I've been saying about Pioli that they were not good towards his latter years at the club. It doesn't change. So at the end of the day, you always make it seem as though somehow I am pro-Fonseca and I'm a big fan of Fonseca and I'm here for him, but that's not true. All I'm telling you is that facts are facts. The Milan has a good team. They should have a good coach that can match that team and take that team to the next level. But apparently management keeps ruining everything because they keep hiring all these uh, you know, they keep leaving guys longer than they should and then hire people that are incompetent. Eventually they'll end up firing Fonseca and then fire. Maybe, who knows, maybe they might fire the management, so-called management and then some other good coach might come in. But at the end of the day. The good thing is, since we last spoke, I guess it's mixed bag. Milan lost to Napoli, which I think you and I except for you you have.
Speaker 1:Go ahead. Let's just um, let's think in this moment. Um I want to say a big thanks to every okay and our downloaders, oh yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, we've been supporting our podcast. Um, our last episode was our 50th episode, honestly, when we started to stay right. Yeah, we just started for the love of the, for the love of milan, and and we're still going for the love of milan. I'm telling you that's just the thing, because that's the only thing that will keep me awake up to this time, to be honest. So I want to say thanks to everybody that has been supporting us and, you know, showing us love as well thanking the uh, the people that support us and, you know, download the podcast, I think.
Speaker 2:What did you say? Was it the thousand downloads?
Speaker 1:I think like we're at 2,500 downloads. Now Downloads.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's a lot of that. That's a, that's a lot of downloads for for 50 episodes, for a couple of Milan fans, just you know, sitting out here and just you know, trying to have a good time with our favorite football team. So thank you to every one of you and thank you, dave, for all your work and hard work and dedication, because, to your point, you're always later than I am because you're two hours ahead of me. So usually you're the guy that has to stay up very late. I've seen you stay up till 1 am to do this podcast, sometimes even 2 am. So it's great work, well done. Thanks, chin.
Speaker 1:Congratulations on the 50th episode. Congratulations to you as well, thanks, anyways. Yeah, as we were saying, let's talk about the Monza game, chin, because I think, oh, you want to skip the ass-whooping by Napoli.
Speaker 2:What is this to talk about? Okay, there's nothing there to talk about, Except for the fact that I think they played okay. That's just me right. I think they played okay against Napoli. They just didn't have the bite Against Monza. To be frank, they actually played worse and they won the game.
Speaker 1:So it's one of those things where the team just Let me ask you one question, though why are they blaming Mike Minnan for the second goal?
Speaker 2:Because of his positioning, because he was moving to his right, you know what I mean. And he hadn't set his feet when this guy shot the ball. Now, maybe, if you look at it again, maybe he didn't really see him, but it's what do you think Karazula is going to do from there? I feel like that ball was awkward, though. No, mike moved. He was moving, literally. Most times your body weight is one way and then you want to take the other direction. That's what happened to him. So he was already like he was moving to his right. I don't know why he would do that. And then, immediately the shot came, he started moving to his left because he would normal mike would save that right if his footwork was uh, was correct.
Speaker 1:But then again, he's not the reason why milan couldn't score right, but I'm also gonna blame for second forca for that game. Let's be honest Like his selection is just Well, let me say something.
Speaker 2:What's new this is? You know, everything is Fonseca, so go ahead, tell me why.
Speaker 1:His selection was bad in that game, to be honest, like he started Pavlovic. We both know that. All the time than any other striker in the entire Serie A, lukaku struggles whenever he plays against Tomori. Why would you bench Tomori and put Pavlov? Look at how Pavlov fell off Lukaku and just fell off one big rat or something. It was annoying. You know what I mean.
Speaker 1:To be honest, those are the details that define big games like this. You can't put the wrong personnel in that kind of position and expect one kind of result. Like Tomoron shouldn't be benched in that game. I don't care whatever happens, like I know there's some internet, whatever, maybe he's also assessing his fitness, but in all honesty, he shouldn't be sitting in that game. And now again, to be honest, let's be real, rafael Leal posed a lot of threats. If he's on the pitch Now, we're talking about the defensive phase. We've been talking about this for a long time, right, okay, yeah, he doesn't mark, he doesn't come back. This kid now is. At least I can see his work, race and I can see that he's actually trying to get into the rhythm with the rest of the team. Let's be real. Like if Rafael Leal started that game, I don't think Napoli freedom that they had in that game to be able to punish us in that kind of way. To be honest, Okay.
Speaker 2:So let's actually call it speedy speed. Milan lost to Napoli, milan lost to Napoli, and it was one of those defeats where, to your point, if you look at the starting lineup, you might have some concerns and some complaints, but, like I told you, it wasn't really a bad game. I think it was two mistakes and the two mistakes led to goals. The first mistake was Pavlovic falling over like a ragdoll when Lukaku ran past him. That's one. Number two, again, let's forget about Mike Mian. What's his name? Emerson Royale and Fofana, right, and the rest of the team. Once Karajveria cuts in, people should be stepping up a little bit more to block that shot. But to your point, maybe gabby, maybe tomorrow might, if he was tomorrow, but gabia, or uh, what's his name? Even for fana, he was actually a little out of position. That's why he committed too much to the outside rather than to the inside. And then mike did not move his feet, like I just watched it again, like it's exactly what it was. He wasn't moving, he waited and then the ball came and then he started diving. Anyway, the point I'm trying to make is two errors led to the goal. Now, as it seemed, milan weren't like they didn't really they were not cutting edge whatsoever. They didn't have that attacking threat in terms of actually scoring a lot of goals, but they actually showed a lot of fight and commitment and they tried to create things, but it wasn't working out. Now, should you have benched Rafael Leal for that game? Who knows? I keep telling you this part. We only look at what's happening on the outside. I will tell you.
Speaker 2:Let me ask you this simple question, though Between you, me and Fonseca, who really wants Milan to succeed more than the other? Like, let me explain. Let me ask that question a different way. Fonseca's livelihood is dependent on the fact that Milan does well or not. You and I will go about our life whether or not he gets a job or gets fired, right. So why do you think the guy would intentionally want to sabotage his what's it called? His career at Milan and potentially his entire managerial career in the top flight of what's it called European football, just because of what Exactly?
Speaker 2:So what I'm trying to tell you here is he has more insights than you and I do. So if you think he has a problem with our failure and you don't understand what the problem is, that means he hasn't told you that. So therefore, you can make assumptions. So, as far as I'm concerned, he wants win, just like every other milan fan wants him to win, and because he's a direct milan employee, I'm sure he wants to win more than you and I. So therefore, to me, let he and rafael figure out whatever their issue is, because he cannot. I don't know if you understand what I mean. Like, what I'm trying to tell you is I agree with you.
Speaker 2:Rafael is an attacking threat. But if the coach looks and says he doesn't give me the best chance to win the games, well then we can do all this, all we want, but the reality of it is he's still the coach of the team. If Rafael doesn't want to listen to him, guess what? He's going to be on the bench until they fire Fonseca eventually. So that's how me I think about it. So because you, defensively, what if the coach thinks there's more to it than just that I told you before? Like if Rafael Leal was actually contributing in terms of the attacking phase of play? Maybe they can forgive his defensive frailty, but he's not doing either, and maybe a guy like Fonseca he's such a he wants to use Rafael Leal as an example of what he. You know what I mean Because it was Theo Hernandez as well. But Theo is now playing regularly. He's the captain of the team and no problems.
Speaker 2:So, but Rafael might just be extra stubborn, and you don't want to see it that way. All you care about is the fact that I love Rafael. Therefore, he must be on the right side of this argument. Anyway, let's just move on. Napoli game was bad, monza was worse.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think the Monza one was just Monza was worse, and I'll tell you why I say it was worse. They played Milan like they were playing a team that was fighting relegation. The Milan team looks disorganized, just like they normally do, and they look very uninterested, right, like very uninterested, especially in the first half. Monza could have scored like three or four goals in that first half, like, oh my God, it was incredible, you know what I mean, and it was too easy, and everybody just looked very lethargic. And again to your point, rafael wasn't on the field, but then the coach can now claim that he's dressing him for Real Madrid, right so, but that game was. Milan were lucky to escape that game with a win.
Speaker 1:I think I really commend Marc Mignan for that game, because he made some very big saves and, in all honesty, right If you ask me. I think I really like what Fonseca has done regarding the defensive face, somehow in terms of trying to bring some other players into the picture, for example like Malik Thiel. Right, I think he's really picking form lately and I really am happy to see that happening.
Speaker 2:Really, it's so strange for you to say that. Because if that's the case, how come they give up so many chances? Because that's just my own question. Right and now I will explain something that I observed in that monster game. But you go ahead, I will explain it to you in a minute.
Speaker 1:No, I think one of my biggest issues with with malik is just those big errors that he commits, that list goals and stuff, right, and I think he's really um, he's really improving on that, to be honest, and I he's very good with his feet as well, right, but the thing is just that my concern is just that the way he's rotating that defense, I don't like it. I don't like it.
Speaker 2:So now you're calling it rotation. It's no longer Tomori getting well-deserved rest.
Speaker 1:Well, it's a well-deserved rest for him. Obviously, yeah, but there's some sacrifices. It's a good thing there's some sacrifices he's making that. I think Tomori should be playing on a steady.
Speaker 2:Well, Tomori has not been informed. Dave, If you were actually objective, you would see the fact that he hasn't. He hasn't been informed. He's always very relaxed.
Speaker 2:Dave, most of the players have not been informed. What are you saying? Yes, but then Tomori is too glaring. Actually, let's go back to talking about most of the players not being informed. Now, I'm not going to pick it's not like I'm picking on what's his name? Fofana.
Speaker 2:But one thing I noticed is that you know Milan plays this. Milan played this for second team. They played with two midfielders right, two of these midfielders. The interesting thing is, I think sometimes both of them are confused. Do you get it Like you know? Let me explain it Like it used to be different. When you had a defensive midfielder right, like Benassir, and then you have Kessie and, let's say, tonali or something right, then at least you know for a fact that there's always someone there to shield that defense. So even Krunic, lord Krunic, that was his job and I could have. I bash him all I want, but at least, physically speaking, he was there.
Speaker 2:The problem with Fofana and Reinders playing the two whatever is that? The both of them most times, if you notice, they always get like they always go too far forward, that they cannot, they won't track back quickly. So you notice every single time Milan, literally there's a counterattack against Milan. Fofana and Reinders are chasing back, do you get? They are literally chasing back. So imagine if you're like what's it called? You're like the Milan defenders and every single time your team loses possession up front, it's basically the transition past your midfield and there's nobody to help, kind of break up play.
Speaker 2:Why am I saying that? It's somehow, I think in the second half of that Monza game for fun, I noticed was the one that would stay back and then Reinders would go forward. Because I think somehow the coach realized I can't keep getting you know when the coach says one of you go forward, one of you stay back, you guys have to decide. But the reality is these guys have not played well enough to kind of read that. It's just easier to say, hey, you stay back, and then the other guy goes and supports the attack, right, instead of both of them doing the same job. And I noticed Milan looked a little bit more solid in the second half I don't know if you noticed the same thing and it was simply because Fofana wasn't running around chasing the ball like a headless chicken he and Reinders of the attacking midfielder, while he not at AM but attacking whatever midfield and he just kind of became more disciplined and just stayed back.
Speaker 2:Why am I bringing this? I think the solution to Milan's problem might actually be playing a midfield three with a base, and that base can be for Fana, and then you know what I mean when he just sits and he doesn't need to do too much. Just almost like get Fofana to play like Kroenic. I can't believe I'm saying that, but the difference is that Fofana at least he can actually play an outlet pass, even though he's not his greatest friend, and he can also intercept the ball. Quite you know, he win it and not give it back right to the opponent. So because whenever you watch Milan, I don't know if you've noticed the ease at which teams go through the midfield.
Speaker 1:It reminds me of like remember the time we used to complain about when Kessie just left.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, yeah, oh, you need that. Even the old Milan days, right when it was a Pilo, gattuso and Sidov. You realize that Pilo, even though he wasn't the defensive guy, just the fact that he was right there, just the fact that he was right there at the Tricartista role, right the pivot, it just means that there was a reference point. Even Manchester City in their best of best, they always have that, you have to.
Speaker 1:It just makes everything make sense to have just that one guy there as a reference point and considering the fact that we like to attack with wingers, right, rafael Liao we're talking about him not tracking back enough right, he's going to leave a big hole in that left-hand side, and that's what most of them usually explore.
Speaker 2:Trust me, the great coaches almost always do that hole Like I can't think of when you. It just doesn't make a lot of sense, right? Because especially for a team like Milan, where you know that you have a lot of weakness in midfield from a defensive perspective, why then do you give people that option for them to push up? Man, go watch the Monza game again. You see that every single time these two guys were up for final and Reinders and then they are just running back like children chasing someone with the candy but go ahead.
Speaker 1:You know, we got lucky. We got lucky that Monza's first goal got disallowed, that goal as if that goal was a legit goal, though I don't know.
Speaker 2:Thierry just fell down. Yeah, milan, even the Maldini chance. I can't believe how he missed that chance.
Speaker 1:Yeah, he missed that chance. I saw it too. I'm like, wow, Like again.
Speaker 2:those were all lucky situations for Milan, but I think, to be honest with you, milan just need to make a little bit of an adjustment to the formation, because we don't look that solid defensively.
Speaker 1:Let me ask you the big question then how would you rate Fonseca's tactical ability?
Speaker 2:Okay so, the only time that I've seen him do something incredible was against Inter Milan. The rest of the time in time in Milan, the rest of the time it's like I can't tell what he's trying to accomplish. Right, within time, milan won. It was like we're going to press them high with all four forwards and everybody's going to go all out, and the players were extra motivated because it was a Milan derby. But since it's like I feel like every week he tries to be tinkering, right, like I feel like you have to find something and then stick to that thing and then make sure that the people understand it. But since the beginning of the season, it's been what? 10 games, now 11 games. He is, yeah, he's been, he is been tinkering and you can't get this team to where you need to like.
Speaker 2:Look at Conte, conte, I can even guarantee you, without looking at the affirmation, that he doesn't change anything. Every week is the same, the same starting 11, the same group of guys, the same whatever, unless someone is suspended or is injured, right, and that's how you get consistency. Everyone just plays off of each other, knowing where people would be. But the stuff I was talking about for Fana and Grinders, it comes from the fact that the both of them don't know where each other would be relative to the ball right, and that's all down to the coach. So when you ask me the question, how are you going to rate him?
Speaker 2:I think he hasn't really lived up to my expectations, and even those expectations were not that high. Like from the preseason, I had a little bit of expectation, but based on what I knew of him before, it wasn't really. It's just, I don't see anything, dave. I don't see it. I don't see anything that tells me that this Milan team, they are going to somehow figure it out and they're going to balance everything out, and that's what worries me, unless, of course, he does something drastic and changes his whole ideology on football in terms of how he wants to play. Other than that, we're going to keep doing. We're going to keep having this frustrating conversation.
Speaker 1:In all honesty, in all honesty, like Chin I'm still going to say it again Like I know you want to agree with me Like, until Fonseca figure out the issue he has with Rafael and get that boy, get him back in form. It's his responsibility to get that boy back in form. That's the reason why they hired him. He's been hired to manage a team that has players with personalities. He's been hired to manage a team that has an identity. He cannot just come in and just say, oh, this is how I want to do things. There's a blueprint already been laid out for him what Fonseca is doing. I'm not saying he should go and depend on Liao, even if he's not informed. No, try to get this boy back informed At least. Well, I'm hoping he starts against Real Madrid, as it's been predicted right, because the reality of the matter is, if Liao is not playing, milan doesn't pose any threats to any team they're playing against.
Speaker 2:Okay, but the point is, even when Liao is playing, what threat are they posing Like? Even against Monza? He came on and he missed two big chances.
Speaker 1:Are you kidding me? You saw how he dragged the entire team from my end to the other end. Really, that dribble is dragging. Are you kidding me, bro?
Speaker 2:No man, Okay so what was the outcome? What was the outcome of the dribble? So you run on the way there and then you shoot the ball at the goalkeeper. Even Adam Atroyeri would probably try to go do something other than shoot the ball at a keeper. There was a time the first minute he came on.
Speaker 1:Shane, you're just taking that to be honest.
Speaker 2:No, I'm not. I'm not hating. The point I'm trying to tell you is this Rafael has one goal and three assists this season. Right, that's literally what was it called.
Speaker 1:Everybody keeps shouting he has one goal. Many games, how many games has he been playing? This guy's been put on the bench for how many games?
Speaker 2:He has played nine matches out of Milan's 10. So what exactly are we talking about? How many minutes has he gotten? 569 minutes, 569. So 569 divided by 9 gives you about 60 something minutes.
Speaker 1:You always think like Dita All the time.
Speaker 2:No, I'm only telling you. So Lukman, ademola Lukman, how many games has he played this year? Think about it. He always gets subbed right after almost like 60th minute because they don't want him hot. Yet whenever he's on the field, he's very no no, we're not the same model.
Speaker 1:We don't operate the same way. Stop Chin, okay.
Speaker 2:Anyways, the point I'm trying to make is that you cannot have your best player not deliver and then not work hard for the team as well. Like, I don't think it goes that way.
Speaker 1:Like you have to, brought him to Milan to manage this Milan team that has the Theo, the Rafael Leal and all those big players that you fans complained that Pioli cannot get the best out of right, so it's his job to make sure he gets these guys in form.
Speaker 2:I'm actually surprised that, of all the players, it's Rafael Leal that he's having issues with, because the both of them are Portuguese. I would imagine that they would understand each other better than anybody else, but hey, apparently it doesn't matter. The point is let's move on to Madrid, because at the end of the day, you can bang your head all you want. The guy has made his bed. He will lie on it. So it's either Rafael Leal kills him or he kills Rafael Leal One of the two of them.
Speaker 1:So and then the other annoying part is his obsession with. Ruben Loftus' chick would also contribute. Yeah, but it's the same issue.
Speaker 2:Now they literally are the same people. What are you?
Speaker 1:telling me no, no, no, no on that, purely love to she was very good stop well, because your own expectation of good is the fact that what, what exactly? How many goals does love to?
Speaker 2:she score last well, see, this is the thing I. I remember last year you guys were saying how ryan does how many assists did he get?
Speaker 2:wait now, because ryan does is a midfielder and your expectation of him is that he should be scoring goals and assisting. Meanwhile, you could see that he actually was the glue that was holding Milan together. Now there's something. I was talking about glue. I think we underestimate the absence of Benassi, because I think if Benassi was around, maybe he would have added a wrinkle to help this team be a little bit more balanced. I can't wait for him to come back.
Speaker 1:I'm really waiting for it because, to be honest, you see this whole issue that Fonseca is having with us playing from the back, getting countered and stuff Like Benassi knows how to build from the back. My problem now is, if Benassi comes Chin, are you going to try to play three of them together, because that's a big question well, in pre-season he played benacer.
Speaker 2:He played benacer as one of those two you know what I mean between forfana and uh rindas. He would play in one of those roles, right? I think the difference between benacer and those two people I just mentioned is he has the defensive awareness right, or the at least willingness to want to not be too too eager to go forward for no reason. So he basically naturally wants to play defensive midfield. On the flip side, those are the two guys, for final is a box to box guy for him. His head tells him if the ball is going forward, I'm going forward with the ball. If the boy is coming back, then I have to track back. Meanwhile rangers, on the other hand, like I love him a lot, he carries the ball a lot and that's one of his strengths and he can pass the ball. But his problem is that I don't think he's the most disciplined defensively and also he doesn't have the body to be putting his leg in those tackle. Which is why benacer also gets injured is that he puts his leg in every tackle. So the point I'm trying to make is that his presence would help with balance defensively right and, to your, to your point, he's also very good on possession.
Speaker 2:One thing that I miss, and this Milan team doesn't have, is that movement of the ball and creating space for each other. Because the problem is that everybody, especially when you have Ruben Loftus-Chick there, they're all very stagnant like brick. And then worst case scenario is, if you now add Ruben Loftus-Chick and Rafael Leal oh my God, nobody moves. And then worst case scenario is, if you now add Ruben Loftus-Chick and Rafael Leal, oh my God, nobody moves. So then the ball is not going to move. So if Benazir was there, you know, maybe you wouldn't need Ruben Loftus-Chick and then you might actually get some movements off the ball that would allow some free-flowing football.
Speaker 2:Because part of the issue Milan has think about it how did they get countered? Someone loses possession. No, how did they get countered? Someone loses possession? No, because everyone wants to try something, they want to do something individualistic, and then they lose the ball. And then, guess what, everybody else is out of position, and then now they're all chasing back, but the other team just bypasses them and goes back. So I think we do miss Benassi. I can't wait for him to return, but then he returns. It takes him a while for him to pick form right. So anyways.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you know remember I talked about our strikers right In our last podcast that we're not really having that sort of reference point that I expect. You know what I mean, because it's really affecting us. Even in our last game against Mozart, the commentator actually said Morata is dropping too deep. You know what I mean, and I feel like that's really affecting us. Even, like for them, chukwuezi, and them, okafor, like if they have a reference point, it will be even way more easier for them to cut them with their attack from the wings. Most of the time when Chukwuezi cuts in right, you expect, like, the figure to be in the box, like the way Jiru does, and back to those strikers and stuff the way he does the hold up play and all those things, right. Well, I'm not saying that for Morata, to be honest, or maybe it's just me, or maybe it's just because he's still adjusting, right, but it's not new to CRI, he's been around for a while. You know what I mean.
Speaker 2:He's played for Juventus like, oh, morata yeah, no, but it's not his fault, isn't that instructions from the coach? Like you think he wants to just go and be running around and tackling people and doing all that stuff. I'm sure the coach is asking him to do all that stuff right, which is funny, because maybe that's what the coach wants rafael leo to be doing as well, like he's not doing it. Think about it. You're complaining here. So the way I envision fonseca, he wants to have this whole concept of total football where everyone is involved, everyone is doing whatever you can. You know what I mean. You lose the ball, you're all pressing, you're all doing whatever, but it's not helping us though.
Speaker 1:What is doing it not helping us? Who? Morata Morata is dropping too deep, yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, for you it's not not helping you, but for the coach he might just be doing exactly what the coach needs.
Speaker 1:No, Because I think this is one of the major issues we're actually battling right now. It's just the way we're not scoring goals, to even start with. You know what I mean?
Speaker 2:Yeah, milan is not scoring goals, because it's just again I keep saying this part football is not a one-unit football. Like all areas of the game, you have to be consistent, right? So I think they are disjointed Because of the disjointedness, it just makes it hard for them to create chances. So therefore, people are pressing, trying to do something, but then when you do that, then you become even more disjointed because you're going away from the blueprint. So, to your point, morata keeps running around. Again, I keep bringing it back.
Speaker 2:What if the coach wants him to run around? What if the coach doesn't want him to be the pivot, the guy like Giroud that stands there and does nothing in our game just to hold the defenders back? What if they don't want that? What if they actually want him to be involved? And then they hope that other guys like Okafor and Chukweze and everybody else on the team they are all running around and getting involved, right, and that's maybe what Fonseca wants where and that's maybe what Fonseca wants where he doesn't have that one guy standing there. So you're complaining about it because it limits in your vision. You're thinking of Giroud and what Giroud has been offering, but the coach doesn't want that Because if he did, they would have gone and hired Giroud, but he's playing in the MLS now. That's not what I meant.
Speaker 1:Okay, sorry I had to bring him back to that. Look, that's a problem coming.
Speaker 2:I think Milan is going to get some ass-whooping, but that's just me.
Speaker 1:What Well? I still believe we can still go and rescue a point or something.
Speaker 2:Because that is exactly who you are You're the eternal optimist. See, let me tell you why. So Real Madrid, I kind of put it, in that group, they are pissed off by multiple things. First they lost to Barcelona Major. That one has not gone over, and then I think they cancelled their game this weekend. They lost Ballon d'Or too, yes, and then the whole club. It wasn't just Vinicius, because I heard the whole Madrid were excited about in the Ballon d'Or, and then they did not. So Vini is going to come out 10 times stronger against AC Milan, and the unfortunate thing is that I don't think we have anybody. Is it? Emerson Royale? Hey Wonderful. And then Mbappé and Tomori, oh my God. Pavlovich, oh, wow. It's going to be an interesting game.
Speaker 1:To be. I think he did a good job.
Speaker 2:Yeah, but that was the PSG Mbappé, right, that was the hot time Mbappé.
Speaker 2:To be honest, the current Mbappé is doing good form, okay, so let me tell you what is going to happen tomorrow, unless, of course, fonseca tells one of those guys to just hang back. It's going to be like you know, when Milan played PSG last year, and it was back and forth and back and forth If Rafael plays, we're going to get chances, and they're going to get chances, and then, guess what? Because Real Madrid have more clinical players, they're going to score a lot of their chances and we will not score ours, and then the game will look one-sided. It's exactly what happens when Milan plays these games.
Speaker 1:Anyways, let's talk about the predicted lineup, right. So we have Mike Mignan, we have Pavlovic and Tomori, we have Theo Hernandez on the left back, and Emerson Rial is going to go back to sport. Then in the midfield we have Fofana and Tijani Reinders. Rafael Lea comes in. So I'm like, oh okay, which kind of makes sense a little bit Morata, RLC. And You're laughing, Keep laughing To be, honest, though, if you look at that lineup, I kind of feel like Ruben Loftus-Cheek tomorrow will be very physical, and that's what we need.
Speaker 2:Again, like I said, it is the best you can offer. So what else do you have? Because there's no other option, right? So it's good. I think that's the best lineup Milan can put out today. But think about it though Now we're going to go play against the likes of you know what's his name, jude Bellingham and then we're going to play to your point.
Speaker 2:Valverde and those guys and the difference between Milan and those guys are actually quite technically gifted. Most of them are, so they ping passes, they can do whatever they move, they shoot. Our own guy is literally empty net. They don't even Like. Rafaela literally had empty net and he cannot put the ball on target, like. So what exactly is the aim? So let me tell you what I think is going to happen tomorrow Milan are going to get beaten by Real Madrid.
Speaker 2:I don't know how else you want to explain it, because we have not been good. We have not been solid defensively. There's nothing going into this game that tells me it's going to be a close game. Real Madrid lost. I think they lost their last Champions League game, if I'm not mistaken, didn't they? They lost, no, no, yeah, because they've won all the Champions League games. Oh, okay, yeah, yeah, yeah, but it was very like open game. Yeah, so they lost to Lille. That was the one I was thinking about. They lost to Lille, but that was because, yeah, that was the previous game. Yeah, they played Lille. Though they look at Lille and they're like that's Lille With Milan it's. You know, when Milan and Madrid meet, it's always a big deal. So they are going to wake up and they just feel bad for Milan because it's also not in his answer. So it's a way, and all these Milan players, they always fold under pressure. So it's good to me, I feel like we cannot no.
Speaker 2:I know you always feel that way, dave. So now what's your prediction? 2-2, 1-1.
Speaker 1:Chill chill, chill. You see, we have quality players. We have quality players that can actually do magic, players like Christian Pulisic, for example. I feel like tomorrow Rafael Leal has a lot of points to prove tomorrow, because Rafael Leal is the kind of player that in big games, when he shows up, he shows up Just like the way he did against PSG last season, remember.
Speaker 2:Well, the only thing is that this is not pre-season. Milan tends to beat Madrid in pre-season. If it was pre-season, I would have hope, but let's see what happens tomorrow. I'm not sounding like a defeated Milan fan, it's just. The reality is that Milan is not in form, and the game against Monza did not put any faith in me that we're going to be able to hold Real Madrid.
Speaker 1:I know.
Speaker 2:Even against Barcelona let me actually say this part Even against Barcelona, madrid still created some chances, even though they were going offside like no man's business. The point is, you cannot stop them from creating those chances. They have those players. It's impossible. So what are you going to do? Counter them with Rafael Leal, literally? Yeah, okay, good luck, good luck. Anyways, my score prediction tomorrow is like it's going to be like 3-1 or 3-0 or something like that. Are you serious? Oh yeah, three goals, yep. Oh, is that too small? Okay, maybe make it four. How about that? Like, just add one for one extra one. So Milan are going to give away penalty, for sure, because that's what happens. And then you're going to complain when we meet again about the ref and how they don't like Milan. But that's exactly what always happens in these games Chill, chill One.
Speaker 1:Look eh, tomorrow I feel like See as a Milan fan.
Speaker 2:As a Milan fan, I would so love if they can find a way to beat Madrid. They really need this game because they've lost.
Speaker 1:I feel like it'll be a close game tomorrow, and I'll tell you why Because we now also want this game.
Speaker 2:But the players don't feel like it, though. That's the problem. They don't feel like they want it. They wanted the Napoli game. Did they look like they wanted it? Somehow they did. So the point I'm trying to make is I can give them.
Speaker 1:I'll give Fonseca a pass for the Napoli game because of the fact that we're missing some key players right. So there are significant players right now for us, which is Stijan Reinders. We cannot afford to miss Stijan Reinders and Theo Hernandez.
Speaker 2:That's how important it is, so the only way Milan will beat Madrid tomorrow is if Madrid beats themselves and go offside like nine times, something like that. Like Mbappé cannot stop running offside, but the problem is Milan players are not smart enough to keep them offside. Tomorrow. We want to chase him to his grave and then we keep him onside, and then the funny thing is he forgets he's not as fast as Mbappé. So I can't even wait for tomorrow. I'm actually looking forward to the game. Your tears, right. Use your tears to eat bread. That's how, because I know exactly what you're going to do. As soon as the game starts, you start complaining and start complaining, even though the formation is exactly what you want. You find a reason to complain. I wonder what it will be tomorrow.
Speaker 1:See I think tomorrow the score will be 2-2. Tomorrow 2-2? Yeah, wow, although.
Speaker 2:Wow, although Madrid defensively. Yeah, they're not really that good, you know, but still I don't think Milan is clinical enough. Maybe Pulisic will score the one goal. It will end 3-1 or 4-1, in my own opinion, that's what I think. But let's see, you said 2-2. I said 3-1. That's why you thought that we were going to beat Napoli. And here we are.
Speaker 1:Let me just quickly ask you do you see Milan making it to the next round in this Champions League? Let's be real.
Speaker 2:Yes, because I think after this Madrid game they may have, way you know, much easier games to play, right, because at the end of the day, like there's a lot of teams that will make it right. That's the idea, right? So Milan has think the top eight automatically qualifies or something, the top six, and then you still have like another six, so you literally have a lot of opportunity to qualify to the next round. Does that make sense? So to me, yes, I do see them eventually doing it, because they won't be playing madrid and liverpool as much. They let red star, belgrade uh, what's the cause? Bratislav and so on and so forth. So, to answer your question, yes, they will do it. Chain. It's been a pleasure talking to you.
Speaker 1:Huh yeah, it's been a pleasure talking to you.
Speaker 2:It's been a pleasure too. I look forward to your tears tomorrow when you start taking me and complaining, but Forza Milan nonetheless, and I wish I wish them all the best tomorrow, yes.
Speaker 1:Thank you everyone, it's been a pleasure. Bye Chin, ciao, ciao.
