In arguably one of the biggest games in Serie A, Milan travel to Turin to face Scudetto hopefuls Juventus in a bid to find inspiration in the absence of Mario Balotelli.
They say that one player does not define a team’s success and neither a solitary performer lays foundations of a team in transitions. However, there are times when a single player can make a huge impact to what a club can achieve.
The case is more or less the same when it comes to AC Milan who have come to put their trust in troubled Italy international, Mario Balotelli. Since the departure of Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Paris Saint-Germain, no player has made such an impact on the Rossoneri as the young striker has.
Despite still being in the early stage of his career at one of Italy’s most successful clubs, the former Internazionale man has become an integral component of the Milan starting eleven. In just eight games, the striker has already scored seven goals which just goes on to show how influential the player has become and how vital he is to his team’s chances of sealing a place in the Champions League next season.
Despite being a footballer who has often divided opinion throughout his career, Balotelli’s importance to the San Siro giants has become immense. So much has been the “Super Mario” effect at the club that Massimiliano Allegri’s men find it hard to be creative in the absence of the controversial striker.
To cut the long story short, Milan do not have a focal point when Mario Balotelli is not in the squad. Although one cannot question the work rate of Giampaolo Pazzini, it is pretty clear for all to see the Allegri’s tactical set up always seems to revolve around a key player who leads from the front. First it was Ibra and now it is Balotelli.
Without the presence of someone special like Balotelli who make something out of nothing, Milan become a fairly predictable side which can be dangerous in a league as strong as the Serie A.
On Sunday, Milan will play against reigning champions Juventus who know that their Scudetto hopes are in their own hands. The Old Lady have lost just twice at home in the league this season which means that Milan will have to be perfect in all departments if they are to cut down the distance between themselves and second placed Napoli who are also looking to seal automatic qualification for the Champions League.
Before the arrival of Mario Balotelli, a lot of goal-scoring burden was on the shoulders of young Stephan El Shaarawy. However, Il Faraone has failed to score in the last seven matches for Milan.
Zvonimir Boban, a former player, now a pundit at Sky Sport Italia, was very critical of Milan’s performance against Napoli and labelled El Shaarawy as being too predictable.
“Balotelli is not the problem, it is that El Sharaawy is too predictable, it’s always the same thing with him,” said the former Milan legend while doing a post-game analysis on Sky Sports Italia.
Without the presence of Balotelli, a player who has the ability to constantly pressurise opposition, Milan lack the aggression and the will to become a potent offensive unit. And against a team like Juventus, it is very likely to see them suffer without the presence of a player who has made a big impression in just a few months he has played for them.
The case is more or less the same when it comes to AC Milan who have come to put their trust in troubled Italy international, Mario Balotelli. Since the departure of Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Paris Saint-Germain, no player has made such an impact on the Rossoneri as the young striker has.
Despite still being in the early stage of his career at one of Italy’s most successful clubs, the former Internazionale man has become an integral component of the Milan starting eleven. In just eight games, the striker has already scored seven goals which just goes on to show how influential the player has become and how vital he is to his team’s chances of sealing a place in the Champions League next season.
Despite being a footballer who has often divided opinion throughout his career, Balotelli’s importance to the San Siro giants has become immense. So much has been the “Super Mario” effect at the club that Massimiliano Allegri’s men find it hard to be creative in the absence of the controversial striker.
To cut the long story short, Milan do not have a focal point when Mario Balotelli is not in the squad. Although one cannot question the work rate of Giampaolo Pazzini, it is pretty clear for all to see the Allegri’s tactical set up always seems to revolve around a key player who leads from the front. First it was Ibra and now it is Balotelli.
Without the presence of someone special like Balotelli who make something out of nothing, Milan become a fairly predictable side which can be dangerous in a league as strong as the Serie A.
On Sunday, Milan will play against reigning champions Juventus who know that their Scudetto hopes are in their own hands. The Old Lady have lost just twice at home in the league this season which means that Milan will have to be perfect in all departments if they are to cut down the distance between themselves and second placed Napoli who are also looking to seal automatic qualification for the Champions League.
Before the arrival of Mario Balotelli, a lot of goal-scoring burden was on the shoulders of young Stephan El Shaarawy. However, Il Faraone has failed to score in the last seven matches for Milan.
Zvonimir Boban, a former player, now a pundit at Sky Sport Italia, was very critical of Milan’s performance against Napoli and labelled El Shaarawy as being too predictable.
“Balotelli is not the problem, it is that El Sharaawy is too predictable, it’s always the same thing with him,” said the former Milan legend while doing a post-game analysis on Sky Sports Italia.
Without the presence of Balotelli, a player who has the ability to constantly pressurise opposition, Milan lack the aggression and the will to become a potent offensive unit. And against a team like Juventus, it is very likely to see them suffer without the presence of a player who has made a big impression in just a few months he has played for them.
