AC Milan made it three consecutive wins to start the Serie A season, with a 2-1 victory at Roma extending our impressive run ahead of the international break.
Stefano Pioli will be pleased not only with the results, but the way in which our performances are improving and progression is being made with the wins becoming more convincing.
READ MORE: Milan player ratings vs Roma: Decisive trio impress but key figure disappoints
While we perhaps lacked balance and control against Bologna, we’ve improved in wins over Torino and Roma since – barring the latter stages in the capital after an anxious end – and so it’s hoped that we can take that into the showdown with Inter without the break disrupting our momentum.
Further, with the Champions League getting underway later this month too, it was imperative that we made a fast start and built confidence within the new-look group, and that’s exactly what we’ve done as we sit atop the standings.
Pioli manages game well, impressive start to campaign
Having come unstuck in a similar situation last season, Pioli managed this encounter better with his changes to ensure we saw out the game and picked up the victory.
His management in general through three games has been positive, as although he’s benefited from the consistency of naming an unchanged side so far this season, he’s finding the right balance and there is clear improvement in our control of tempo and possession.
He’ll hope to see that continue after the break, but with so many faces to integrate and the challenge to find stability, he and his coaching staff have done a top job thus far.
Tomori decision-making to cut out errors must improve
While he has been error-prone, Fikayo Tomori’s decision-making in key moments has to be better and he’ll no doubt accept that too after his red card on Friday night.
With a booking already to his name, he continued to walk a fine line before his eventual dismissal, and it just comes down to being sensible and smarter with his actions.
Having controlled the game for so long, we risked coming up short with 10 men late on, and he’ll now miss the derby and force Pioli into an adjustment that he perhaps didn’t necessarily want to make.
Thiaw solidifying himself as rock in Milan defence
Solid defensively and composed in possession, the 22-year-old is continuing to establish himself as a pivotal figure in the heart of our defence.
While many of us were impressed with his development and improvement last season, it appears as though he is continuing on that trajectory as he’s showing consistency in the maturity of his displays.
There will be a test next time out with Pierre Kalulu likely to form that centre-half partnership with him against Inter, but the signs are certainly promising from the German defender.
Loftus-Cheek imposing himself in midfield
We’ve seen positive signs in the first two games, but Loftus-Cheek is finding consistency and his sharpness now as he continues to impose himself in midfield in both phases.
His physical presence, athleticism and ability to give us a foothold in games alongside Rade Krunic and Tijjani Reijnders has been a key factor in our impressive start to the campaign, and he’ll hopefully continue to go from strength to strength.
We saw with his assist against Torino and how he won the penalty at Roma that he has the ability to break forward and add a vital dynamic to our attacking play, and he’ll hopefully be decisive often moving forward.
Leao still the difference maker despite more dynamic attack
While we’ve lauded how we’re less predictable and more dynamic in the final third now, Leao is still the difference maker for us in decisive moments, as seen with his finish in Rome.
When the Portuguese winger flicks that switch, he is just devastating down the left flank, and he caused the Giallorossi defence plenty of problems.
However, his goal ultimately secured the three points, and what a stunning strike it was too as he adjusted himself brilliantly to make a great connection and guide the ball into the back of the net.
