Inconsistency Hurts AC Milan Again vs. Genoa in Serie A

Milan don't come from behind. The game was effectively over once they went down 1-0 to Genoa on Sunday.

Of course, it was a former player who did Milan in. Luca Antonelli, developed in the Milan youth system, nodded in the only goal of the match, and Genoa moved up to third place as a result.

For the Rossoneri, it was more of the same. This is an temperamental team that has not managed to win from a losing position this season. Score first and they’re done.

Tullio M. Puglia/Getty Images

Coach Pippo Inzaghi hinted at that after the match. “If we had taken the lead—and we had the chances in front of [Genoa goalkeeper Mattia] Perin—it would’ve been a completely different game,” he told Sky Sport Italia (h/t Football Italia). 

The way they conceded was familiar too; Antonelli's header was another goal conceded from a set piece—a corner kick—which has been a weakness for years now. Massimiliano Allegri took the blame for that when he was coaching Milan, but this nasty habit has outlived him. This is a personnel issue. Players such as Daniele Bonera, who failed to mark Antonelli, are just not good enough.

Of a more pressing concern is the inability to carry any momentum from game to game. Milan have won just once in their past seven outings, and that victory came against Udinese last week. During that match, they imposed themselves and executed the kind of attacking football that president Silvio Berlusconi craves.

But that attacking spirit never lasts. Milan often revert to a game of sterile possession, which happened again on Sunday afternoon.

With the shots they did take—a total of 15, according to WhoScored.com—they missed big time. Jeremy Menez had quality chances, but he is a false nine in the truest sense of the name; he is good for a golazo or a penalty but not for a routine finish.

"

Menez is more fake nine than false nine

— Antö (@rossoAnto) December 7, 2014"

It was also telling that both Giampaolo Pazzini and M’Baye Niang earned minutes ahead of Fernando Torres, who is either injured or completely out of favour. Torres has been struggling with an ankle injury, but not much is known about it. It’s either an excuse or a chronic problem—either way, it’s bad.

Instead, Milan have relied on non-traditional means to score goals. And it doesn’t always work. They’ve been shut out three times already this season.

This is the biggest test of Inzaghi’s fledgling managerial career. He promised many things to the fans: to play attractive football, to fill San Siro again, to return to the Champions League.

But how much weight do his words actually carry? This was a game they absolutely needed to win, and even though they lost, he still called it a “good performance.” It was most certainly not. Inzaghi almost loses credibility every time he speaks. He doesn’t call it as it is, and he continues to preach about the process.

But a process only happens when someone or something takes steps forward to achieve a particular goal. Milan, on the other hand, continue to shuffle around, showing no consistency at all.