AC Milan picked up a 2-0 win at Venezia on Sunday to cap off a positive week of results for Sergio Conceicao and the players.
The Rossoneri were looking to build on our win over Inter in midweek as we reached the Coppa Italia Final, and it promised to be a tricky trip to face the relegation-threatened home side.
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Although Christian Pulisic gave us an early lead after just five minutes, the hosts posed a real threat thereafter and had a goal ruled out for offside as they enjoyed a positive period in the encounter.
Having got through that though, Milan eventually saw the game out with Santiago Gimenez making it safe in the 96th minute to seal the victory and three important points.
Important win for Milan, building momentum and confidence
It’s been a disappointing campaign on the whole given our inconsistency and underwhelming form in Serie A and the Champions League, with a coaching change not necessarily turning it around.
Conceicao has won silverware already in his defence and has a shot at another trophy before the campaign concludes, and so our form between now and the end of the season is crucial.
With the Coppa Italia Final to come against Bologna next month, we must be in good shape heading into that game to give ourselves as much confidence and belief as possible, and so back-to-back wins over Inter and Venezia since our defeat to Atalanta will certainly help.
Pulisic returns to form after barren run
Having gone 43 days without a goal after his last came in our win over Como on March 15, Pulisic ended his drought with a decisive early goal to give us the lead.
His movement and work ethic was excellent thereafter as he looks to have shaken off his fatigue and dip in form, while the 26-year-old now has 16 goals and 11 assists in 45 appearances across all competitions so far this season.
It’s been another productive campaign for him, and it’s hoped that this goal can spark a big run of form to help fire us towards achieving our objectives in the next month or so.
Reijnders continues to produce
Another player enjoying a positive year is Tijjani Reijnders, as his assist for our second goal on Sunday took his tally to five for the season in 49 outings, while he’s also contributed 15 goals.
The Dutch international has been such a key cog in our side in both phases, and so it’s imperative that if we are to make significant changes this summer, we build around him and other pillars of the current side.
With an ability to pair a tireless work ethic with his quality and technical ability in possession, he is a big reason behind why we’ve managed to obtain positive results this season.
Morale-booster for Gimenez with late goal
It’s been a struggle for the 24-year-old since he arrived in January, as he’s managed just four goals and two assists in 15 appearances.
That period of adjustment and adaptation is difficult for most players coming to a new league and environment, and while the work-rate and determination has been there, it hasn’t always come off in front of goal.
With a fine finish to double our lead and seal the win on Sunday, it’s hoped Gimenez has got the confidence boost he needed to find some form now, having slipped behind Luka Jovic and Tammy Abraham in the pecking order.
Critical run for Serie A, Coppa Italia hopes
Milan are now in a decisive stretch of the campaign, as although it still seems unlikely that we’ll make up enough ground to be in Champions League qualification contention, we must climb the Serie A table in our final four games.
Further, that will have an important knock-on effect ahead of the Coppa Italia Final, as although it’s a one-off Cup game and anything can happen, we’d rather go into it in good form and feeling confident.
With consecutive wins this week, we’ve laid the foundation for a big finish, and so with a trip to face Genoa up next before back-to-back clashes with Bologna, including the latter being the Final, this is a crunch period in our year and we must be ready for it with the right mindset and approach by learning from our mistakes earlier in the campaign.
