Player Ratings: Udinese 0-2 AC Milan – Pulisic crucial; positive debut
Individual brilliance and a solid team display allowed Milan to bounce back with a 2-0 win against Udinese. As always, we have rated each of the Rossoneri’s players.
Ruben Amorim and his men were in need of a confidence boost after Thursday’s heavy defeat in England. Thankfully, that’s exactly what they got and some individual brilliance was behind it all, especially the first goal.
If you haven’t already, make sure to check out how we decide the player ratings. From the scale to what affects the rating, we have compiled everything there.
Short Version
Pulisic (7.5 – MOTM): It was a perfect run and a very composed finish to open the scoring, showing all of his great qualities. He continues to be great between the lines for Milan and came close to at least one more goal. What I like the most is just how much he adds when he drops down and starts combining with his teammates.
No one was below a 6 tonight, so it doesn’t feel right to single someone out here.
Amorim (6.5): Udinese are in free fall, but we have to give him credit for the formation ‘change’ to start both Diawara and Bartesaghi. It was certainly a bold move and it paid off. We can’t really give him credit for the rest of the eleven as it wrote itself.
Starting XI
Maignan (6): Udinese did force him to quite a few saves tonight, but there was nothing spectacular from the Frenchman. At least he didn’t let the boos from the stands get to him, which was nice to see.
Tomori (6): He looked a bit rusty to me, especially in possession at the back, as shown with a very dangerous backpass in the first half. That said, he really added a lot when going forward, not just with the runs but also the passing. In fact, he should’ve had an assist with a great cross towards the back post.
De Winter (6.5): Solid is the way to describe his season and today was no different. He was often the man in possession in the build-up and defensively, he headed away a lot inside the box today. In short, his positioning was great.
Pavlovic (6.5): Udinese often tried to find Davis with the long balls and the Serbian imposed himself in the aerial duels. He didn’t always win them, but he always made his presence felt and put the opponent off balance. Some good passing forward too (no runs!).
Diawara (6.5): Yes, there were a few mistakes to note, but it was a very positive Serie A debut when you consider that he had to play at left-back. We will definitely see more of him moving forward, potentially making Estupinan the third-choice left-back.
Hutchinson (7): Right place, right time. Good finish as well on that rebound, it has to be said, as he didn’t give the keeper a chance. I do think that he should have done better overall, not really taking on his man often enough and wasting two good counter-attacking chances. But that goal made everything very comfortable.
Modric (7.5): That pass for Pulisic… chef’s kiss! The awareness to play that ball is world-class, without a doubt, and he had several other good passes too. Something just clicks when he’s on the pitch; Milan’s build-up becomes a lot better.
Jashari (7.5): His best performance of the season, hands down. He worked tirelessly as he always does but this time he was more composed on the ball, not making mistakes in the build-up. It was a good shot that resulted in Milan’s second goal too, and that was far from his only good attacking contribution.
Bartesaghi (7.5): I don’t know about you, but I think he was really good in this more advanced role. His runs constantly put Udinese in trouble and he came close to a goal as well, blocked at the last second. The chance when he and Pulisic got in the way of each other wasn’t great, but again, a really good performance overall.
Pulisic (7.5 – MOTM): It was a perfect run and a very composed finish to open the scoring, showing all of his great qualities. He continues to be great between the lines for Milan and came close to at least one more goal. What I like the most is just how much he adds when he drops down and starts combining with his teammates.
Ramos (6.5): Lungs for days! He was clearly a bit irritated with the referee (rightfully so), but it only seemed to egg him on. He was unlucky not to get a goal, with his effort tipped onto the bar, and he ran tirelessly until the very end.
Substitutes
Musah (6): He replaced Tomori at right-back and did a decent job with some tackles, along with a sense of security on the ball. You know, when he just takes the ball and drives with it to open space and completely kills the opponent’s pressing momentum.
Loftus-Cheek (6): Pretty good from the Englishman, who could have got a goal with a little bit of luck. Instead, he got taken off with a suspected injury, even if it looked more like a heavy contact (hopefully it’s just that).
Cisse (6): Most of us thought he had scored with a curling effort, very nearly finding the top corner, but it wasn’t to be. He combined well in the minutes he had on the pitch.
Comotto (N/A): I didn’t see enough to give him a rating.
Camarda (N/A): I didn’t see enough to give him a rating.
The manager
Amorim (6.5): Udinese are in free fall, but we have to give him credit for the formation ‘change’ to start both Diawara and Bartesaghi. It was certainly a bold move and it paid off. We can’t really give him credit for the rest of the eleven as it wrote itself.
