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Prandelli's Piece: Milan have turned a corner, Spalletti isn't a magician!
This could well be the turning point for Milan. Not so much for Fiorentina, unless they decide to invest in the upcoming transfer window. Paulo Sousa's starting XI is a perfectly drilled machine, but if just one part breaks down (in this case Milan Badelj), it's thrown off rhythm. The squad is lacking in depth, but Sousa could also study an alternative in case one of his indispensables limps off.
For Milan, on the other hand, things are finally looking up. Earlier on, the Diavolo was doing everything to offer fans the good football they coveted. Now, however, the team is more cynical and in better shape, and hence able to cover the whole pitch and ramp up the pressing.
While we're at it, the team is also showing the a more united front to the outside world. This owes a lot to Coach Mihajlovic, who has done great work in cementing the dressing room when things looked like they'd hit rock bottom.
Taking all the flak and putting all the pressure on himself, the Serbian coach has deflected it from the less resilient players. The result? Milan play far more smoothly, they feel more free. Looking at Miha smile after Kevin Prince Boateng's goal, it was hard to avoid the feeling that Milan could be about to turn a corner.
Hands off Montolivo! Riccardo Montolivo is back to playing a big role in this Milan role, though he is too often criticised, even by his own fans. Having had the privilege of coaching him, I can attest to his impeccable professionalism and serious approach. To those who criticise him for being slow... I can only say that there's not much he can do if his team-mates don't get into space, hence limiting his passing options. We saw at Fiorentina what he could do with the ball at his feet when his team-mates actually gave him good passing lanes.
Spalletti isn't a magician! Luciano Spalletti's first outing as coach saw his new team try to press the opponent's ball carriers more, though there's not much they can do in such bad physical shape. Spalletti's job is, therefore, to add a little at a time each week to bring his players back to an acceptable level. From a tactical perspective, we can see that Roma's main problem is their lack of order. The team is stretched far too easily, it loses any sense of cohesion quickly, forcing its players to rmake up for it by running more.
I have a very personal take on Dzeko's difficulties: he's hardly being helped by the two wingers who play outside him. Salah and Gervinho are dribblers, they don't tend to work a lot for the striker. The eventual arrival of someone like El Shaarawy, or a player with the qualities and the persistence of Diego Perotti could crucially alter Roma's play, and help the Bosnian get back to his scoring ways.
Cesare Prandelli, translated by Edo Dalmonte
