Suso Answers Carlos Bacca's Call for More Service as AC Milan Defeat Sampdoria

The major talking point surrounding AC Milan’s trip to face Sampdoria on Friday night was the omission of star striker Carlos Bacca.

The 30-year-old was the club’s top scorer last season and hit a hat-trick on the opening day of this term against Torino. However, following last Sunday’s 1-0 defeat at home to Udinese, speculation grew of an argument between the precision finisher and his coach, Vincenzo Montella.

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La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Football Italia) reported that the player had complained about the service, or lack thereof, provided to him by his team-mates. The coach, purportedly, responded by suggesting the striker improve his positioning.

The end result of the stand-off was that Bacca did not start Milan’s tricky away game with Sampdoria; instead, the line was led by Gianluca Lapadula.

Ultimately, the decision, while controversial, worked out for everyone.

Lapadula worked hard, held the ball up well and fought to create chances for himself and those around him, showing himself to be an able forward option if needed. Then, having been brought into the fray on 64 minutes, Bacca proceeded to score the winning goal five minutes from the end of normal time.

And, most importantly, the Colombian hitman received the service he had been crying out for thanks to the diligent attacking play of Suso.

After the match, Bacca acknowledged this when talking to the press, per Football Italia:

"

I always look to be on the pitch, but I am a professional and I respect the coach’s decision.

I work for this, to be on the pitch. I thank God that I came on and scored the goal. I need to do my talking on the pitch.

I’ve spoken to [Montella] and it’s over now. I play with players who can play well. Today Suso gave me good service.

"

The match was a predictably testing one for Milan. In their opening three games, Sampdoria had won two and pushed Roma close in a 3-2 defeat at the Stadio Olimpico. Consequently, Marco Giampaolo’s side went into Friday night’s game filled with confidence. And, unsurprisingly, they had their chances.

An excellent long-range effort from diminutive midfield pivot Lucas Torreira was parried well by Gianluigi Donnarumma, while Luis Muriel’s movement frequently caused headaches for Montella’s defence.

The former Udinese striker came close to breaking the deadlock, hitting the post with an accurate drive, and he also had a goal ruled out in the second half for handball.

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For their part, Milan appeared far more organised than in their defeat to Udinese. The back four remained extremely compact, at times meaning four Rossoneri defenders stood between Muriel and his striking team-mate, Fabio Quagliarella.

The midfield also took up good positions defensively, while in possession the entire team played with greater purpose.

Suso was integral to Milan’s attacking strategy, as Montella sought to take advantage of Sampdoria’s narrow structure with quick switches of play.

Operating as he has done throughout the season so far on the right wing, the 22-year-old often executed long diagonal balls to M’Baye Niang on the opposite wing in a bid to isolate the Frenchman against his marker, Jacopo Sala.

The Spaniard, just as Niang and Giacomo Bonaventura did, also had a penalty appeal waved away before providing a vital contribution on 85 minutes.

With the game having opened up, Suso found himself in space and, seeing the run of Bacca to his left, played a perfectly weighted pass to set his colleague up for a one-on-one with Sampdoria goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano.

In such situations the striker rarely misses, and he was true to form on this occasion, poking the ball into the back of the net.

Any complaints Bacca may previously have had about a supposed lack of service dissipated right then and there. He couldn’t possibly have received a better pass. And it came from a player who has helped to fill Milan’s creative void since returning from a loan spell with Genoa last season.

Suso is one of those players who has always resembled a talented footballer without ever really proving it on the pitch. Technically, there are few who best him for touch, control and dribbling ability. But he appeared dogged by an inability to convert his evident skill to consistently productive performances.

This changed during his time at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris where, under Gian Piero Gasperini’s tutelage, he revelled. At Genoa, he found himself playing regularly within a style of play that suited him; in 15 starts for the club, he scored six goals—a respectable haul that helped breathe life into his career.

Upon returning to Milan, he resolved to prove himself to Montella and earn more opportunities with the first team, telling La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Football Italia): "I feel like this year will be different, because I’ve improved. I’m working hard because I understand this could be the defining moment of my career. ... I went to Genoa to show everyone, myself included, that I was fit to wear the Milan shirt. I have the qualities to do it."

The former Liverpool midfielder added: "It’s true [that Montella’s game suits me], he likes to play with the ball and keep possession. ... With this coach I feel my time is coming. Milan can count on me. … I’ve always said I want this club, and I want to do something important: no more loans."

Actions speak louder than words, however, and until Suso proved his worth on the pitch, his assertive declarations would retain the desperate air of an ailing former prospect. But he didn’t waste time in arguing his case; in the first pre-season game under Montella, he scored twice to help Milan beat Bordeaux 2-1. From then on, he has retained his place, quickly developing into an integral player.

Montella has implemented a 4-3-3 system since taking the reins at the San Siro, and Suso has taken up the right-wing berth in all four Serie A games thus far within this shape. From this area, his inward driving runs have proved extremely useful, dragging defenders out of position and distorting the opposition’s shape.

His end product has also improved.

He was heavily involved in both of Milan’s goals in the 4-2 defeat away to Napoli, setting up Niang before scoring one of his own with a stunning left-footed thunderbolt.

After that match, Montella told Mediaset Premium (h/t Football Italia), “Suso hasn’t given his best yet. He has enormous potential, but needs to grow in his consistency and also self-confidence. He has to be more incisive, because he has the quality to do that.”

With the words of his coach, as well as the call from Bacca for greater service, ringing in his ears, Suso continued to showcase his quality against Sampdoria. Nobody completed more dribbles than his four, while he also provided two key passes, one of which was his assist for Milan’s goal.

And his latest performance, when added to his work in the opening three league games of 2016-17, means he is the team’s best performer this season, with an average rating of 7.26 from WhoScored.com.

Since returning from Genoa, Suso has responded positively to every challenge thrown his way. In so doing, he has established himself not just as a first-team member, but as a key player.

Assuming he continues in this vein, his greatest fear should be allayed. There will be no more loans.

All statistics provided by WhoScored.com unless otherwise stated.