Watching AC Milan in recent weeks has been a bit of a rollercoaster ride. On the one hand, a look at the table is encouraging and shows that the team is on the upswing, at least for the time being. However, the performances on the pitch are neither here, nor there.
While the team has been scraping wins in the Serie A, their performances outside the league have been lacklustre. Rino Gattuso’s mindset is a definite positive for now. The Italian has made Milan a gritty side that doesn’t know when its lost the game. Recent wins through goals in ET are suggestive that the team is certainly starting to believe in itself. However, this doesn’t look like a team that’s going to take the world by storm.
There are several average players on the team who are being propelled into becoming good players. However, the Rossoneri are scarce on great players and that’s where the challenge is. One look at Milan’s rivals and the difference is obvious. All four teams that currently sit above Milan in the points table have multiple match-winners who can single-handedly take the game away from the opposition. Milan currently has one world-class player in Gonzalo Higuaín who is at the cusp of his career. There are several prospects on the verge of greatness like Alessio Romagnoli, Gigio Donnarumma, Davide Calabria, Mattia Caldara, and Patrick Cutrone, but none is closer to that moniker than Suso.
The young winger is a difficult player to assess. On the one hand, his technique and talent is a class above the rest of his team-mates. However, the Spanish winger lacks the pace that makes most wide-men elite.
Suso has helped the team with some fantastic output this season, which makes him a dangerous player but the real question is whether he can become the X-factor that makes good teams great.
Most great teams in history have one talisman, the focal point that everyone rallies around. Suso may still be young, but if Milan are to achieve any success, the Spaniard is Milan’s best hope.