AC Milan mirroring Gennaro Gattuso's resolve and other things learned from dramatic win over Genoa

Aditya Devavrat 09:00 12/03/2018
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  • Gattuso has moulded a side in his image.

    AC Milan were disappointing in their Europa League loss to Arsenal in midweek, when expectations were that they would shock the Premier League side.

    Given that loss, manager Gennaro Gattuso was no doubt looking for a response from his men, and he got one on Sunday as Milan gritted out a 1-0 win over Genoa, with Andre Silva scoring the winner with the last play of the game.

    Here are three things learned from Sunday’s win.

    GATTUSO’S STEELINESS DRIVING MILAN

    Milan didn’t play well on Sunday, often looking like they’d run out of ideas. The best chances fell to Genoa, who really should have won this game. Milan defended well, but on the balance of play, they didn’t look like they were going to win.

    But did anyone actually doubt they were? Gattuso’s side may have disappointed against Arsenal, but on Sunday they showed the resolve that has come to typify Milan under their new boss. They kept plugging away, and they got their win.

    This Milan side has Gattuso's fighting spirit ingrained.

    This Milan side has Gattuso’s fighting spirit ingrained.

    A TALE OF TWO SIGNINGS

    30-year-old Nikola Kalinic joined in the summer from Fiorentina, with two seasons of Serie A experience under his belt and boasting a decent scoring rate during his time at La Viola. 22-year-old Andre Silva joined from Porto, his first move outside of his home country.

    Both have been struggling this season to make an impact at their new club, but surprisingly it is the veteran with Serie A pedigree who has looked more out of depth.

    This may have been Silva’s first league goal but he’s scored six times in nine Europa League appearances, so he’s displayed some semblance of form in a Milan shirt.

    Kalinic, with only four goals the entire season, may have to get used to being the third-choice striker at the club.

    Andre Silva's winner could kick-start his Milan career.

    Andre Silva’s winner could kick-start his Milan career.

    HOW FAR CAN MILAN GO?

    Milan’s recent run in Serie A has seen them rise to sixth place, and the question now is, how much further can they go? At the moment, the gap to fourth-placed Lazio is six points, with Inter in fifth, a point behind the Rome club.

    Lazio and Inter will face off later this season, while Milan have to play Inter once as well, and all three sides have to play at least one of the top three as well, so points will be dropped.

    It gives Milan a realistic, if still distant, shot at a top-four finish, and the Champions League spot that comes with it. They will have to navigate fixtures against both Juventus and Napoli, but the fact that they’re even in the race shows how good a job Gattuso has done.

    Can AC Milan make an unlikely push for a Champions League place?

    Can AC Milan make an unlikely push for a Champions League place?

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