GdS: The opportunity, the issues and the exes – why Genoa is a ‘true test’ for Amorim’s Milan

By: Oliver Fisher

AC Milan take on Genoa this afternoon in need of a win to bounce back from a midweek defeat, which has become a familiar tale.

There is a lot riding on the game at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris for various reasons, but above all the feeling is that a positive result is required to make the international break less turbulent for Ruben Amorim and his side. La Gazzetta dello Sport have picked out a few angles in their preview.

Inter will host Como tonight: will Milan seize the day? That is the significance of the Rossoneri’s trip to Liguria. A win against Genoa would allow them to gain ground on Inter, Como, or both should the match at San Siro end in a draw.

As of this morning, Milan sit in fifth place with 21 points. If the season’s objective is a top-four finish, they must determine which team to target in the race. The top four are Lazio (28), Roma (27, having played one extra match), Inter (25) and Como (23).

Lazio is the big surprise, while the presence of the other three was to be expected. Milan won the derby, but this week’s European fixtures have re-established a gap: Inter defeated Feyenoord away in the Champions League, while Milan fell to Ferencváros at San Siro in the Europa League. Then there are Como, following their extraordinary 9-1 victory in RC Lens.

Yesterday, Roma eased past Sassuolo, ending the day in second place. Currently, Milan trail those ahead of them in the standings because – unlike the top four – they are still searching for a clear, strong identity.

Should Inter emerge victorious in Milano, a win in Genoa would allow the Diavolo to leapfrog Como and claim fourth place. So, Milan must take the opportunity, or risk further complications in their top four bid.

Inconsistency as a way of life for Milan. In their last six matches across Serie A and the Europa League, every victory has been followed by a defeat. Following this pattern of alternation, Milan should win today, having been beaten in Europe by Ferencváros on Thursday, but sequences are made to be broken.

Milan will only fully turn a corner and truly mature only when they step off this seesaw. To understand these ups and downs, one must look at the mindset. It is a psychological issue: the team do not know how to handle a win, treating it as a definitive cure only to suffer a relapse the very next time out.

Amorim is well aware of the problem: his disappointment following the Ferencváros match stemmed from the team’s attitude, which stood in stark contrast to the one displayed five days earlier against Inter. He addressed it in the dressing room (a polite way of saying he was furious).

It is unclear how much age plays a role, as Milan’s squad features a blend of youth and experience. For instance, in Thursday’s match against Ferencváros, both 20-year-old Cissé and 31-year-old Rabiot were equally ineffective.

Perhaps the question is whether there are enough figures capable of shaking up the group and keeping it alert and responsive. Judging by what is seen on the pitch, Mike Maignan possesses the strongest personality though one wonders whether his voice carries real weight.

Luka Modrić is a genius that has won it all, but he does not appear to be the type of player who rallies his team-mates, embodying instead a quiet, standard-setting form of leadership.

On Thursday, against Ferencváros, Gonçalo Ramos touched the ball 26 times over 90 minutes plus stoppage time. Among those who were not substituted, he was the least involved player for Milan.

While it is true that a centre-forward’s role naturally involves less ball possession than that of a midfielder or defender, what matters is that he remains a threat. Yet, against the Hungarians, Gonçalo was harmless, failing to register a single shot on target.

He was the Milan player who engaged in the highest number of duels (13), a statistic that reinforces the impression of a Ramos disconnected from the rest of the team, attempting to force individual solutions against multiple opponents.

So far, Ramos has appeared to be an ill-fitting piece in the side. In 13 matches across the league and the Europa League, he has scored just three goals: two in Serie A (one of which was a penalty) and one in Europe. He also has just one assist.

That is far too little for a €70m man. Gonçalo Ramos was not born a striker: he evolved into one, and he interprets the position in an atypical way, as a creative link-up player or an opportunist rather than a penalty box target man.

Much like Kolo Muani at Juventus, he functions more as a wide forward or a supplementary attacker than as an out-and-out goalscorer. There is no doubt that Gonçalo possesses refined technique, is capable of precise combination play, and excels at holding up the ball.

He started reasonably well at Milan, showing signs that he could blend flashes of brilliance with goalscoring. Gradually, however, he has faded, seemingly weighed down by a lack of confidence. It is surprising that Amorim is yet to fully unlock his qualities or integrate him effectively with the players around him.

Keep an eye on the contingent of former Milan players within the Genoa squad. Stephan El Shaarawy spent four years with the Diavolo between 2011 and 2015. Although he only won one Supercoppa Italiana, he left behind fond memories.

He is expected to start today. Daniele De Rossi has been deploying him between the left flank and the attacking midfield, where his signature drifting, inward-curving runs can pose a real threat.

Junior Messias is slated to begin on the bench, though whether that will actually be the case remains to be seen. The Brazilian spent two years in Milan, and was the standout performer in Genoa’s 2-1 victory over Lecce a week ago.

While Messias is somewhat injury-prone, he has managed to feature in every league match so far this season. Known for his creativity, he operates as a number 10 that is just as adept at setting up his team-mates as he is at scoring himself.

Lorenzo Colombo meanwhile is a product of the Milan youth academy and a favourite of Zlatan Ibrahimović, who once nicknamed him ‘Hulk’. He has seen his role in the Genoa attack diminish, as the Montenegrin player Osmajic has become the primary centre-forward.

That said, De Rossi has occasionally fielded them together to great effect. Colombo has yet to score in this Serie A campaign, though he has provided two assists, both for Osmajic.

Notably absent from the Genoa squad is the talented 18-year-old Brazilian Robinho Junior, son of the Robinho who won the 2010-11 Scudetto with Milan.