ANALYSIS: Romagnoli + Bertolacci not worth € 45 million, Bacca needs strike partner
Milan’s lack of hunger and determination allowed Empoli to level the game twice. Milan’s quality is not top-class, so one would expect to see at least the right spirit to seal the three points against a small team that actually plays one of the most attractive football in Serie A.
Alessio Romagnoli and Andrea Bertolacci, who joined the San Siro last summer for € 25 and € 20 million respectively, embodied the team’s lack of personality.
The Italian defender was the first one player requested by Sinisa Mihajlovic last summer since he had already coached him at Sampdoria. Romagnoli was way too soft against Empoli and probably unable to handle the pressure like an experienced central-defender would have done.
Bertolacci’s performance was not any better. The former Genoa star was too slow and his passes were too simple. He couldn’t boss the midfield like he was supposed to do when he arrived at the San Siro six months ago. If Montolivo has changed his style of play becoming a holding midfielder more than a playmaker, it is Berloacci who should raise the team’s rhythm of play.
Sinisa Mihajlovic, by the way, has to share some responsibilities with his players too. Carlos Bacca, who has the best shot-to-goal ratio in Serie A, showed the his usual ruthlessness in front of goal, but yet again he was left alone up front, while M’Baye Niang was running up and down the left flank with more defensive duties rather than attacking ones.
The Empoli clash confirmed that Carlos Bacca needs an attacking partner to keep the ball up front and take some pressure out of the midfield, when the opponents are pressing high up in the pitch.
One last thing about Juraj Kucka: if Sinisa Mihajlovic needs a dynamic player who is both able to defend and attack, why did he left the Slovakia International on the bench for the whole game?
Andrea Distaso (@andreadista83), translated by Lorenzo Bettoni @lorebetto
