Milan Set Unwanted Defensive Feat Against Cagliari

Milan maintained their see-saw form under Paulo Fonseca with a gut-wrenching 3-3 draw at Cagliari on Saturday evening. Despite falling behind early, the Rossoneri turned the game on its head, only to concede a last-gasp equalizer that left them frustrated again.

Gabriele Zappa’s 89th-minute volley left Fonseca fuming. The under-pressure Milan boss blasted his team in the aftermath. He revealed a devastating stat during his post-match conference, admitting the Rossoneri lost 69% of aerial duels at the Unipol Domus.

However, that was only the tip of the iceberg. Milan looked fragile at the back from the get-go. Nadir Zorta fired Cagliari in front after only two minutes, taking advantage of Milan’s self-destructive habit of slumping to slow starts.

According to Opta, Milan have conceded a league-high ten goals in the opening five minutes of play across the last three Serie A campaigns. That’s unacceptable for a team aspiring for the highest accolades. Such a poor defensive record early in matches highlights a troubling lack of focus and organization from the outset.

Addressing this issue will be crucial for Fonseca, as these early lapses not only affect the team’s confidence but also force them into high-pressure situations. With November’s international break around the corner, the Milan coach must find a cure for this problem during a two-week hiatus from club football.

Otherwise, Milan could be in a world of trouble when fierce rivals Juventus roll into town on November 23. Fonseca’s charges will spend the break on the periphery of the European qualification places.