OPINION: Rating Every Milan Player for the 2018/19 Season

AC Milan capped off their highest point tally since 2012-13. Here's my rating of the players who made that happen. The ratings are based on the quality of performances irrespective of the frequency of playing time. Have a look:

GOALKEEPERS

Gigio Donnarumma

Rating: 8.5/10

Gigio had a monumental 2018/19 season. He restored his position as the most promising goalkeeper in the league and possibly the world following insanely high class performances that literally won games for Milan. He improved his passing games, his reflexes and his composure to deliver mature performances throughout the season. Possibly Milan’s overall MVP.

Pepe Reina

Rating: 6.5/10

Reina played his role well. He was not spectacular but he was solid enough to cover for Donnarumma when called upon alongside commanding Milan in the Europa League. He is a leader and a mentor on the squad.

WINGBACKS

Davide Calabria

Rating: 7.0/10

Calabria played through a tough season and established himself as the solid option at right back. Calabria has an incredible balance between the attacking and defensive phases of his game. He is an important component in Milan’s counter attacks and does well to bring Suso and Kessie into the game. He cemented himself and looks set to fight it out with Conti.

Ricardo Rodriguez

Rating: 6.5/10

Rodriguez had a rather muted season. He did not do much out of the ordinary or worth noticing. He was consistent and played a solid role throughout but left much to be desired in the attacking proportion of his game. Moreover he seemed quite error prone in defence in 2019. Average season from a player who has great technical ability.

Ignazio Abate

Rating: 6.0/10

Abate played his farewell season running out his contract. He was decent when called upon especially at CB but was often stretched when at RB. He played a key role getting Milan through its injury crisis and overall played admirably.

Andrea Conti

Rating: 6.0/10

Conti failed to make a lasting impact. He played on-and-off injury, making some stunning cameos bagging key assists but left too much to be desired defensively. He seems to be too used to playing as a RWB in a 3-5-2 formation as opposed to the RB in the 4-3-3 and needs to work on this.

Diego Laxalt

Rating: 5.5/10

Very frustrating player to watch. Given his speed and agility he could have had an impact on the season, playing a key creative role on the left side as a winger or wingback, but he did neither. Often seemed lost when on the pitch and his performances appeared rash.

CENTRE-BACKS

Alessio Romagnoli

Rating: 8.5/10

Romagnoli showed leadership. This season threw him into the deep end and he handled it amazingly. He was finally a captain that Milanisti could rally around. He was the ‘Roar of Milan’ when dealing with referees, when handling his team mates and when he made vital contributions to the game. Romagnoli scored stunning late winners against Udinese and Genoa and made game-winning saves against Fiorentina and Bologna. A season to remember for the new Captain.

Matteo Musacchio

Rating: 6.5/10

Musacchio got his shot at the First XI. He was displaced in his first season but received the sparting spot over an injured Caldara for the season. He was good but error prone. Musacchio did massively contribute to the intensity amongst the team and came through in some big moments such as winning the penalty at Lazio and scoring in the derby. Interesting to see the competition next season.

Cristian Zapata

Rating: 6.5/10

Barely featured this season apart from the cover during the injury crisis. He showed his maturity and demonstrated his strength and good understanding of the game whenever he was called upon. Good depth role.

HOLDING MIDFIELDERS

Tiemoue Bakayoko

Rating: 7.0/10

Bakayoko was a revelation and a huge part of why Milan contested for a UCL spot. He burst onto the scene after a string of horrendous performances but then turned his fate around to become an instant fan favourite. He controlled the middle of the park with some composed dribbling, smooth tackling and intelligent passing to breath life into the Rossoneri midfield. The grade is not higher due to the issues surrounding the discipline and the eventual sluggish conclusion to his season. Either way a core part of the squad and one of the most impactful.

Lucas Biglia

Rating: 6.0/10

Biglia was sidelined early on with an injury. He put in a few good shifts but played second fiddle to Bakayoko since his emergence. He did score a stunner at Chievo and kick off the season solidly. Overall a off year for the Argentine.

CENTRAL MIDFIELDERS

Lucas Paqueta

Rating: 7.5/10

Paqueta was a huge acqusition from the January market. He has an instant impact and brought energy and flair to the midfield. His trickery, vision and unpredictability carried Milan on a huge unbeaten run that took them from 5th to 3rd. He will undoubtedly be a key player for Milan next season. The only criticism would be his disciplinary record and his composure as he picked up 5 yellows and a red card in 12 games in the league.

Franck Kessie

Rating: 6.5/10

A season of ups and downs for the Ivorian. Kessie was perhaps one of the most criticised players amongst the current squad due to his inability to deliver fundamentals in the final third. He seems to freeze and forget how to pass, cross and shot more often than not. However, his role in midfield of pressing, winning balls and driving forward have been unparalleled and Milan always struggled when he was not on the pitch. Moreover, he scored at key moments and has lots of room for development.

Giacomo Bonaventura

Rating: 7.0/10

Bonaventura had an unlucky season. He was taken out by injury very early on despite a promising start to the season with three goals and an assist before November. As always he was energetic and influenced the game positively. He will be an important leader for Milan next season and gives some tactical flexibility to the midfield.

WINGERS

Suso

Rating: 7.0/10

To be honest, it was a disappointing season for him. His inconsistency hurt Milan a lot but his numbers reflect otherwise. Suso got off to a lightning start and was roasting defenders up and down the right side but then he fizzled out and was anonymous for about four months. Suso is a luxury player, who can score beautiful goals, play sublime balls into the box but he can not do it consistently. This fault needs to be fixed to truly unlock his full potential.

Hakan Calhanoglu

Rating: 5.5/10

Hakan is perhaps the flop of the season. Another player who numbers are better than his performances. He bagged 4 goals and 9 assists over the course of the season but was the most lethargic player on numerous occasions. He was also very frustrating with his long shots and his poor crossing. The reason why he is my flop of the season is the fact that he has so much talent that he could easily be the best player on the squad but mentally he does not seem to be there.

Fabio Borini

Rating: 5.5/10

Borini had a Boriniesque season. He scored some late winners, ran a lot, played wherever necessary and gave away the free-kick that allowed Parma to tie Milan and effectively ruin the season. He performed averagely but always played with heart.

Samu Castillejo

Rating: 5.5/10

Castillejo has me flummoxed. He is very hard to read and his game does not translate well in Serie A. He often got tossed around and was barely noticeable on the pitch despite some good opportune finishes. He is not a bad depth player but needs to have more of an impact when introduced off the bench.

STRIKERS

Krysztof Piatek

Rating: 7.5/10

Pum Pum Pum. What else can be said. Piatek has fired shots and let Serie A know that he will be hunting the Capocannoniere for seasons to come. He was devastating at Genoa and oppotunistic at Milan but he bagged himself 22 goals in his debut season. He rating isn’t higher due to his minor drought at Milan and his poor work rate off the ball. He has so much potential and has the opportunity to grow at Milan. He needs to work on his hold up play, control and passing to be a truly lethal no. 9.

Patrick Cutrone

Rating: 6.0/10

A season of two halves for the young Italian. Already a cult hero at Milan, Cutrone had to fight for a place twice this season with Higuain and with Piatek. In the first half of the season, he made a strong case to take over the starting spot and delivered results, he poached and netted 9 times. But following the arrival of Piatek, Cutrone has not scored and barely created opportunities. He has struggled to find his feet but has been impactful through his attitude. A player for the near future with amazing ability to become a vital goalscorer.

MANAGER

Gennaro Gattuso

Rating: 7.0/10

In my opinion, Gattuso was an incredible manager for Milan over the past two seasons. This season he overachieved with a squad that had a number of holes and inconsistencies. Gattuso brought a sense of belonging to the players and a prestige to the club that had been missing for a while. He secured back to back European qualifications into the Europa League and was vital in nurturing the youth of the club. Gattuso was let down by the mental fragility of the players more than anything as the team struggled to overcome defeats after brilliant runs of form. Farewell to a Milan Legend for the second time, he deserves nothing but respect.