AC Milan secured a 2-0 win over Lazio on Saturday, as the Rossoneri made it three consecutive wins in Serie A to continue to put a good run of form together.
We’ve responded well since that bitterly disappointing defeat to Inter last month, with victories over Verona, Cagliari and Lazio moving us joint top of the standings.
READ MORE: Milan player ratings vs Lazio: Attacking trio decisive in important win
While it’s hoped that form transfers over to Europe in midweek, it’s imperative that we continue to build momentum and confidence, especially with some difficult fixtures to come in the next month or so.
Goals from Christian Pulisic and Noah Okafor saw off Lazio this weekend, and it although it was a struggle in the first half, Milan produced the quality that was needed to come away with all three points.
Leao the difference after midweek rest
As enjoyable as it is to watch Rafael Leao in action week in and week out, if we want to compete on multiple fronts over the course of this season and win silverware, we need to manage him too.
That in turn led to Stefano Pioli resting the Portuguese international in midweek, and importantly others stepped up in his absence and alongside him to make the difference.
However, it was great to see him showcase his class in the second half this weekend to provide two assists for our goals, thus showing his decisiveness and importance in the side again when needed.
Adli continuing to settle into key role
With Ismael Bennacer still sidelined and Rade Krunic picking up an injury setback of his own, there was concern over how Milan would best fill the void in that defensive midfield role.
Fortunately, having finally been given a chance to show his worth, Yacine Adli has stepped up and delivered thus far as he looks to be adapting and interpreting the role as Pioli wants him to.
With his technical ability in possession and his understanding of the role and its defensive duties improving, it’s hoped that he can continue to add an important presence in that position.
Pulisic adds decisive touch
Building on a point above, it’s pivotal to our chances of winning trophies this season that we’re a more dynamic and unpredictable attacking unit.
That in turn means we can’t always rely on the likes of Leao and Olivier Giroud to dig us out of a hole, and so that is why Pulisic, among others, was brought in this past summer to address that issue given we struggled previously.
With three goals and an assist in seven Serie A outings thus far, the USA international is delivering and adding more quality in the final third compared to our attack last season, and long may that continue.
Double fitness boost
While those that deputised for them did a solid job and deserve credit, it was important to see Mike Maignan and Davide Calabria back in the side this weekend.
With their leadership, defensive qualities and contribution to our play on the ball, it’s vital that they stay fit and feature heavily this season, and especially with big games coming up, it was good to see them return.
Aside from our trip to Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday, we face Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain and Napoli before the end of October, and so we need our leading figures heavily involved and leading the way.
Milan building momentum ahead of key run
With those fixtures mentioned above in mind, it’s crucial that Milan not only put points on the board and strengthen our position in the standings, but we have to go into those games full of confidence and belief.
That would have been shaken after the defeat to Inter, while the goalless draw with Newcastle Utd arguably did little to repair that given we should have won that game.
However, with three successive wins, we’re hopefully now starting to find our stride and rhythm, and we go into crunch encounters in top form with less pressure, albeit fully aware of the significance of the outcomes.