AC Milan Defeat Pescara in Spite of Vincenzo Montella’s Bemusing Negativity

It’s hard to criticise a winning coach and almost sacrilegious when that person has redefined a team used to dropping unnecessary points. But in order to avoid repeating past mistakes, reasoned analysis must prevail.

AC Milan needed hope after three desperately poor seasons, and Vincenzo Montella has restored that. Since arriving in June, he has led the team to seven wins from his first 11 Serie A matches in charge, taking them up to third place in the table as a result.

He has imbued the team with a clear sense of identity and taken away some of the underlying fragility that seemed to haunt the players in times of uncertainty.

He also guided them to their first win over reigning champions Juventus for almost four years in what felt like a symbolic moment for a team built on teenagers such as 17-year-old goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and 18-year-old playmaker Manuel Locatelli.

However, in spite of his impressive record, Montella’s performance has not been perfect. And to ensure a degree of realism amid Milan’s turnaround in fortunes, it’s important to point out where he can do better.

On Sunday afternoon, Milan defeated Pescara 1-0 at the San Siro. The win was the Rossoneri’s fourth in a row at home and their fourth in five games overall. It was an important result on the back of a dispiriting 3-0 away loss to Genoa on Tuesday and took the club back into the Champions League qualification spots.

However, it was also a nerve-jangling affair, a difficult contest against a struggling team. It was a reminder that Milan’s turnaround is still in its formative stages.

Carlos Bacca was presented with Milan’s earliest chance from a Suso ball, but it was the away side that had started the brightest, with Alessandro Crescenzi cutting in from the left to cross straight into Donnarumma’s arms.

Milan then gradually asserted themselves as the first half wore on. Mattia De Sciglio’s shot was well saved by Albano Bizzarri before the woodwork denied M’Baye Niang, whose header crashed off the post as half-time loomed.

And Montella’s men couldn’t have asked for a more positive beginning to the second period. Four minutes in, a free-kick was given just outside Pescara’s penalty area. Giacomo Bonaventura stepped up to pass it cleverly beneath the wall and into the net.

It was an exceptional bit of skill that seemed to spark the game into life, with both sides taking it in turns to test the other’s defensive line.

Pescara striker Gianluca Caprari had a goal disallowed for a tight offside call before Bacca found the post from close range. …

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