GdS: The image of a cursed season – Milan the worst crew in Europe at penalties
One other statistic that AC Milan might do with out throughout their unfavourable season is the truth that they’re the worst penalty takers in Europe.
As recall, Milan have missed 4 penalties out of 9 this 12 months, which suggests they’ve scored solely 55.6%. 4 penalties had been missed by 4 totally different shooters, too: Theo Hernandez, Tammy Abraham, Christian Pulisic and Santiago Gimenez.
Commercial
It’s symptomatic of the overall unease on the membership this season. Within the main European league, no crew has achieved worse (SC Freiburg have additionally missed 4). It has the anatomy of a catastrophe as a result of when it occurred, the Rossoneri all the time misplaced.
The Stadio Artemio Franchi in Florence has been and can perpetually stay within the unfavourable symbolism of the Rossoneri season. It was October 6, 2024, the seventh recreation of the season. After a sluggish begin, Milan arrived in Tuscany on the wave of three consecutive victories, together with the derby.
Fiorentina had began moderately badly and for the Rossoneri there was the chance to increase the streak. With La Viola main 1-0, on the finish of the primary half Pairetto gave a penalty for Milan (Ranieri on Reijnders). Morata took the ball, Hernandez takes it from him, goes to shoot and De Gea saved.
Extra Tales / The Match
Commercial
In that very same recreation, within the 54th minute, one other penalty was given for Moise Kean’s kick on Gabbia. Tomori took possession of the ball and delivered it into the arms of Abraham who, approached by Pulisic, pushed him away. De Gea once more was the hero between the sticks.
For the file the designated taker, for each penalties, was Pulisic. He didn’t have the presence of thoughts to impose himself, simply as Fonseca didn’t intervene from the bench. Milan misplaced, and it turned the most recent saga after the cooling break.
Commercial
The third miss got here just a few months later on the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino on February 22, 2025. With the Granata forward by one purpose, shortly after the half-hour mark a handball by Pedersen was penalised.
Photograph by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Pictures
Pulisic took it this time however noticed the large Milinkovic-Savic in entrance of him, who stored him out. It’s the first profession error from the spot for the captain of the US nationwide crew in his profession, one more signal of a cursed season. Milan had 10 factors within the earlier 4 video games and missed one more massive likelihood to leap up the standings.
On Sunday night time on the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, the fourth miss recreation. As soon as once more, the one you anticipate to see stood over the spot shouldn’t be Pulisic, however, as Conceiçao defined after the match that he’s ‘one of many three penalty takers’.
He added: “They’re those who select who’s going to take the shot, additionally based mostly on how a lot they really feel prefer it.” On this case, it’s not a nasty matter of stolen penalties like in Florence, given Gimenez has not scored since February 18. Meret saved, and Milan would lose 2-1.