The football world had barely finished its summer siesta when AC Milan, under the returning stewardship of Massimiliano Allegri, delivered an unexpected, if tragically familiar, performance. A home defeat to newly promoted Cremonese on the opening matchday has plunged the Rossoneri into an immediate crisis of confidence, with Allegri`s post-match analysis painting a stark picture of a team that simply “doesn`t perceive danger.”
Massimiliano Allegri, 58, facing a familiar challenge at AC Milan. (Image Source: AFP)
A Prophetic Quip Turns Bitter Reality
Massimiliano Allegri, a figure synonymous with tactical pragmatism and an almost philosophical approach to the beautiful game, made his much-anticipated return to the AC Milan dugout after a year`s hiatus. Before the match, he chuckled, “It`s been a year since I sat on the bench, I hope not to cause too much damage.” This pre-match jest now resonates with a rather dark, prophetic irony. The initial act of the new season saw Milan pick up precisely where they left off last year: a narrative of desolation, marked by old vices and errors that have, regrettably, become a recurring theme.
The Rossoneri`s shortcomings were glaringly obvious against a Cremonese side that, despite their newly-promoted status, seemed remarkably comfortable at San Siro. Two fundamental issues plagued Milan: an almost systemic inability to unlock compact, defensively resolute teams, and a defensive phase as fragile as a dry biscuit. While the overarching tactical blueprint falls squarely on the coach`s shoulders, Allegri himself didn`t shy away from highlighting individual blunders that compounded the collective woes. “It`s not the coach`s fault,” he mused, if players like Pavlovic miskick balls into corners or gift them to opponents, or if Estupinan struggles with basic control, or Fofana aims for the pigeons rather than the goal, or Gimenez fails to shield a simple pass.
The Elusive “Perception of Danger”
In his post-match assessment, Allegri cut to the chase, articulating a concern that many Milan faithful have harbored for some time. “We took many shots on goal,” he observed, “but the difference is made by the ruthlessness with which you attack and, especially, with which you defend. We conceded two goals that, with more attention and ruthlessness, would have been avoidable.”
“We need to improve our perception of danger because we don`t perceive it: in the box, five against three, the opponent cannot jump alone.”
This phrase, “non percepiamo il pericolo” (we don`t perceive the danger), for connoisseurs of Italian football, carries a certain déjà vu, echoing sentiments from his previous tenures. It speaks to a fundamental psychological and tactical disconnect – a lack of anticipatory awareness, a failure to read unfolding threats, and an absence of that primal defensive instinct that separates champions from also-rans. When a coach laments such basic tenets of football, it suggests a problem deeper than mere tactical adjustments; it points to a foundational issue within the squad`s collective mentality.
The Call for “Dirty Games” and a Reality Check
Allegri stressed that the season is young, offering ample time for correction. However, his remarks also hinted at the challenging nature of Serie A, where every opponent, regardless of stature, can pose a “thorny” problem. Cremonese, he noted, “won without stealing anything.” The defeat, he conceded, was a result of Milan`s own missteps.
Perhaps most tellingly, Allegri called for a shift in approach: “In general, you also need to be prepared to play dirty games because if we play all clean games, we don`t give solidity.” This isn`t an endorsement of foul play, but rather a pragmatic call for tactical shrewdness, resilience, and a willingness to win ugly when necessary. It`s about grit over glamour, substance over style – a hallmark of many successful Italian teams.
The sentiment resonating from the stands and social media is a mix of frustration and resignation. Critics are quick to highlight what they perceive as Allegri`s recycled tactical issues, while supporters grapple with the reality that a season without European competition, once seen as a golden opportunity for domestic focus, has begun with such a disheartening thud. The performance against Cremonese was less a blip and more a continuation of struggles, prompting an uncomfortable question: Is this merely an August stumble, or a deeper structural malaise that requires more than just a renewed “perception of danger” to fix?
The Road Ahead: A Season Under Scrutiny
With the dust barely settled on opening weekend, the pressure on Allegri and his squad is palpable. The stark reality check delivered by Cremonese serves as an early, inconvenient truth. While it`s premature to draw definitive conclusions, the immediate future demands a rapid and demonstrable improvement in both defensive solidity and attacking ingenuity. The task for Allegri is not just to refine tactics, but to instill a robust “perception of danger” and the necessary “ruthlessness” into a team that currently appears to lack both. The season is but a fledgling, yet the diagnostic has been delivered – loud and clear.
