AC Milan and Genoa clashed on Saturday night at the iconic San Siro, where the Rossoneri celebrated their 125th anniversary amid significant lineup changes orchestrated by coach Paulo Fonseca. Hoping to secure three points after their Champions League triumph over Red Star Belgrade, the Rossoneri aimed to bounce back from last week’s disappointing loss to Atalanta.
Paulo Fonseca is making headlines with his bold managerial decisions, driven by their recently poor performance. Following the Champions League victory, he had expressed his displeasure about the team's attitude, stating it wasn't reflective of the club's standards. He did not shy away from indicating there would be drastic changes to the starting eleven for the match against Genoa, as quoted by Corriere della Sera: "We will see someone on the pitch from the Milan Futuro project." This aligns with Fonseca’s intentions to inject youth and fresh talent, aiming to guide the Rossoneri back to winning form.
Ahead of the match, there was rampant speculation about the lineup. Key players such as Theo Hernandez and captain Davide Calabria were benched, with young Spanish fullback Alex Jimenez slated to take the left-back position. Jimenez, who had been compared to Hernandez by none other than Zlatan Ibrahimovic at the start of the season, made his first-team debut last season, showcasing talent well above his Serie C competition.
The coaching reshuffle did not stop with Jimenez. With other stars absent due to injury, including Christian Pulisic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, and Yunus Musah, Mattia Liberali, another promising talent from the youth rank, stepped up to fill the void. These decisions by Fonseca demonstrated his commitment to the "Futuro" youth project, and there was anticipation of how these youngsters would perform against Genoa.
Pre-game predictions had focused on whether the changes would yield the desired effects. For fans, the excitement was palpable as they hoped the new lineup would breathe new life and energy onto the pitch.
Despite these changes, the game unfolded under disappointing circumstances for the Rossoneri. A scoreless draw left Milan with nothing to show for their efforts. The first half fell flat with few clear-cut chances, barring some attempts from Tijjani Reijnders and Tammy Abraham. Genoa's defense proved unyielding. Milan failed to capitalize on their early opportunities, including a missed penalty opportunity when Liberali was brought down but the referee deemed it not worthy of a spot-kick.
Both teams pressed for advantage, but opportunities were limited. One of the best chances landed at the feet of substitute Alvaro Morata, who called to action after passing late fitness tests. With the dreariness of the match, fans began to voice their frustrations, with Morata even hitting the crossbar when it appeared only the keeper was left to beat.
Post-match comments from Rafael Leao highlighted the team's struggles, admitting, "We lacked viciousness. Even if we didn’t play perfectly, we had our chances." His reflections aligned with the anger expressed by coach Fonseca earlier, who stated the players needed to show greater respect for the club’s legacy during such milestone events.
Despite the night being intended to celebrate AC Milan's rich history, it instead cast shadows on their aspirations this season, as the Rossoneri slipped down the standings to eighth place with the result. Like many fans, Leao expressed hope for improvement: "We’re holding our heads high and moving forward. We will find our rhythm again.”
Looking to the future, Milan will need to regroup quickly as they gear up for their next challenge against Hellas Verona. The fans' expectations are high, and with the pressure mounting, it remains to be seen if these youth players can continue to make their mark amid these turbulent times for the club.
