Allegri's Milan dominates against Liverpool: defense and counterattack, Leao super
It's not even August football, the kind that precedes the start of the championship, but the one at the end of July definitely has AC Milan fans daydreaming. After a narrow, yet more than worthy, defeat against Arsenal , Max Allegri's team took the opportunity to beat English champions Liverpool 4-2. And the victory in their second friendly match in Hong Kong was anything but a fluke. Compared to what we (didn't) admire until a couple of months ago, it seems like we're seeing a completely transformed team, and not just tactically.
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What makes the difference between that world and this new one is the attitude, the spirit of sacrifice, and the attitude of some players who were previously lazy and are now embracing Allegri's new mood. One above all is Rafa Leao, for whom the Livorno-born coach had already had some sweet words on the day of his presentation at Milanello. Clearly, Max has managed to strike a chord with the Portuguese player. From a lazy player, he's transformed, awaiting confirmation in matches that will have a different specific weight, into a key player in the project that is about to take shape. Other pieces are missing to complete the squad that must return to secure a Champions League spot, but in the meantime, Rafa is taking center stage. At 26, he's at the peak of his footballing maturity, and who knows, perhaps within his not-always-so-linear thinking, the number 10 has found the right path. After all, his technical and physical qualities have never been in question. His goal in the 11th minute opened the scoring.
Milan took the lead, and Leao celebrated by dedicating a thought and prayer to his national teammate Diogo Jota, who tragically passed away a few weeks ago in a terrible car accident. And to remember the man who was a lynchpin of the Reds' last seasons, the crowd stopped in the 20th minute to commemorate him, as did his former teammates, all of whom wore the number 20 on their shirts. A lump in the throat, with the mind trying to stay on the pitch. The equalizer came from Szoboszlai (26'), who curled a beautiful right-footed shot into the top corner. Despite the heat, which forced a cooling break, and the inevitable buildup to the match, the tempo was high.
In Allegri's game, which features a low block, compactness, and the ability to turn the opposition around becomes crucial. And in the setup for the second big match in just a few matches, in addition to Leao, who moves at twice the speed of the others, Pulisic will also be a key lynchpin. He knows how to move in tight spaces, link up with those playing behind him, and then even launches deep, sprinting hard despite not having such long levers. He displayed this quality in a couple of bursts of energy towards the end of the first half, when he twice came close to securing a second lead. No big deal, because Leao was in fine form and at the start of the second half he started the play that led to Loftus-Cheek's 2-1 goal, another player who, after months of being a nurse and at the back of the pecking order, could now carve out a respectable role. Saelemaekers will also be keen to sign him, as he was lightning-fast in setting up Okafor to make it 3-1. But even for the third goal, everything started with Leao. A brilliant backheel for Loftus, who in turn passes to Alexis, who is also making waves. Returning from stints with Bologna and Roma, the Belgian, unlike his first spell with AC Milan, is a true footballer.
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It will take longer, however, to assess the caliber of new arrival Estupinan, whom Allegri brought on for the final half hour, matching Chukuweze, his former teammate from his time at Villarreal. The game slowed a bit toward the end, and another pair of goals arrived. Gakpo pulled one back, and Okafor scored four for a brace. The scoreline ended 4-2, but it's not just the result that should give AC Milan fans hope. If the day is a good indicator, the season could be interesting.
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