rebuilding the fortress

Kevin Prince Boatang

Milan 2 Auxerre 0

Call me unconventional. Because I am. Most people would look at the game between Milan and Auxerre and credit Ronaldinho or Ibrahimovic. I am going to think differently and credit a certain Kevin Prince Boatang. This player is the 'dynamic midfielder' Allegri had asked for. It took an injury to Massimo Ambrosini for the introduction of Boatang. For the first time since December 2007, the stars in the sky had constructed a favorable constellation above the Meazza to appease the titans of Milan.

AC Milan were still surfacing from the Cesena hangover of the weekend. They were rusty with their passing, casual in possession and coolly gifted the French side chance after chance to break the deadlock in the first 15 minutes. The combined age of the Milan midfield prior to Boatang's introduction was 98 years. It sounds like a fossil was crumbling in the fashion capital of Italy. Rightly so, the midfield was static and easily being over-ridden by the visitors. Nesta isn't quite the defender he used to be and I don't value him as a lifeline anymore. He defends just as bad and this is his second torrid outing of the season already. He was used as a springboard on one occasion by an opposition defender, during a set piece to get the header on target. Fortunately for Nesta, the header hit the crossbar. AC Milan were taking the whole half to get started. The wingers were being stifled for space and they were often drifting in to find room. Ronaldinho was remarkably poor in the first half. His passing and set pieces were average at best. Someway through the half, Auxerre had a superb chance to open the deadlock but the fullback went for glory instead of simply squaring the ball to an open player. Milan were lacking legs in midfield. By this time Boatang was already introduced into the game and was beginning to show flashes of quality. The first half ended with the front three putting in very indifferent performances. The team were sloppy and looked lost on the pitch. Allegri had to stir the dressing room. Going by Seedorf's praises, I reckon he did.

Clarence Seedorf was one of the few players who played poorly in the second half as well. His delivery into the box was alarmingly poor, with the ball tender running towards the crowd to collect the ball that was intended to be a cross. Nearly 20 minutes into the first half, Milan opened the scoring. Ronaldinho's cross into the box, a smart flick by Boatang and Ibrahimovic scores his first goal in the 'most beautiful shirt he has ever worn'. Ambrosini would never have found himself in the position that Boatang did. He has a footballing brain, Kevin. And we definitely need more of that given Allegri starts Ambrosini and Gattuso. Not much later, on the counter now, Milan and Ibra score their second. A peach of a finish by the big Swede, his goal greeted with a roar I haven't heard in years. The fortress is being rebuilt. Milan seemed content to pass the ball at the back. Its not surprising that Milan's best passers were the back 4, who kept knocking the ball around. This statistically speaking, by the way. Even though Bonera and Nesta were nowhere close to their best individually, they collectively held the line of defense beautifully, often deceiving the Auxerre attackers into an offside trap. One player who showed a marked improvement in the 2nd half was Ronaldinho. His passing and movement was top-drawer and he had a hand in both the goals. He could have secured more assists but wasteful finishing in front of goal kept his tally at a believable number.

Boatang for me was the man of the match. He ran his heart out. He is the box-box player Milan have been craving about. He is fast, physical, tireless, strong and gets into scoring positions in the box, in the absence of the striker. He did that a couple of times when Ibrahimovic was caught out wide. Ambrosini has been ruled out for the next 3 weeks. Kevin has the perfect opportunity to make that role his, and deservedly so. His opponents aren't particularly challenging, therefore its in his hands. The coach likes him. The question is, will he repay the faith?

Milan - Ibrahimovic 63', 66'

Auxerre - /