Milan’s title winners rated: Leao 9, Giroud 8, Ibrahimovic 7

In a roller-coaster season full of emotions, in the end, Milan came away victorious as  champions of Italy for the 19th time in their illustrious club history, writes Matt Santangelo. 

Throughout the course of 38 matches, Stefano Pioli’s was stacked with bright-eyed young talents who wound up emerging as stars in a title-winning campaign, while there were still perhaps left a bit to be desired. 

Here are the entire squad’s seasonal grades: 

GOALKEEPERS  

Mike Maignan (9) – In the swift acquisition of France international to replace Gianluigi Donnarumma, Milan went from having the best goalkeeper in Italy to having the best goalkeeper in Italy. 

The 26-year old claimed Serie A’s Best Goalkeeper award and had a large impact on the club’s 19th title. There are countless performances to note, but we can comfortably end on the fact that Magic Mike is simply world class. 

Ciprian Tătărușanu (6) – The Romanian shot-stopper played second fiddle to Maignan for most of the season, but when the ex-Lille goalkeeper went down with a wrist injury, Tătărușanu served admirably.

He also played a key tole in the title success with a penalty save from Lautaro Martinez to preserve the 1-1 draw in  November proved decisive in Milan winning the head to head.  

Antonio Mirante (n/a) – The Italian was signed as a free transfer mid-season, but did  not feature for the club. 

DEFENDERS  

Davide Calabria (6.5) – There were stretches this season where he looked his strongest as a defensive presence with an exceptional work-rate, but towards the tail  end, there were moments of struggle that put his starting status in question.

However, the academy product got stuck in and helped finish the job. With Alessio Romagnoli set to depart, Calabria looks ready for the captaincy and the responsibility that comes with it. 

Fodé Ballo-Touré (5) – The Senegal full-back was brought in to serve as a backup  to Theo Hernandez.

Unfortunately, Ballo-Toure was far too  mistake prone and lacked the defensive sharpness. It could be a  “one and done” for the 25-year old.  

Alessio Romagnoli (6) – Since Fikayo Tomori joined from Chelsea and effectively unseated him in the defence, Romagnoli’s role evaporated.

Although he is likely to leave for free, unlike those who left last summer under similar  circumstances, Romagnoli will forever be appreciated for his service. A consummate  professional in every sense of the word goes out a champion.  

Theo Hernandez (8) – The France international ended last year’s campaign with a reputation as one of the world’s best left-backs, only to follow it up with another stellar season.

His  harmonious play with Leão on the left flank was near unstoppable, and with his commitment to the club long-term, there is so much more he can achieve.

It’s amazing what a sit-down in Ibiza with Paolo Maldini can do for a player’s career. 

Pierre Kalulu (8) – Whether it be as a full-back or central defender, Kalulu has grown into a star for Milan.

In the second half of the season, with both Simon Kjaer and Romagnoli sidelined, the 21-year old formed a tremendous partnership with Tomori that helped Milan storm to a title.

For €500,000, Geoffrey Moncada and Milan struck gold with a special player.  

Fikayo Tomori (8.5) – The England international has been consistently impressive throughout the entire year; proving he is world class and Chelsea made a mistake letting him walk.

The 24-year-old’s leadership, consistency and unwavering defensive play cannot be understated, and he is already one of the league’s elite defenders,.

Tomori isn’t far off from being recognised as a  top 10 defender on the continent. 

Simon Kjaer (6.5) – Milan’s heralded leader at the back suffered a major injury in November that limited him to only 11 appearances.

Despite being sidelined for most of  the season, the Great Dane’s locker room presence surely played a role in motivating  and helping lead the Scudetto charge.  

Alessandro Florenzi (6.5) – Deputising as Calabria’s back-up, Florenzi managed to carve out a nice debut season at the club.

Most of his minutes came from the bench, but the ex-Roma man demonstrated quality play and the ‘grinta’ that every winning side must have.  

Matteo Gabbia (5) – Playing only 500+ minutes, Gabbia found it extremely challenging to break in. There could perhaps be a role for him next season to show Pioli a bit more, but the likelihood is he will be sent on loan for experience.  

MIDFIELDERS  

Ismaël Bennacer (8) – Regardless of whether he played next to Kessie or Tonali, Bennacer carried on with business as usual as a midfielder with sharp passing at an 88% clip and a steady-as-they-come approach to the needs of Pioli.

There may have been  periods where he was third choice, but make no mistake about it: Bennacer is a valued asset who played an intricate role in winning the league. 

Rade Krunic (7) – Mr. Dependable. Krunic’s unselfishness in playing wherever and whenever Pioli needed him was highly appreciated, particularly in the final stretch.

He threw himself into challenges to win the ball and sacrificed himself for the greater cause. Every title-winning side needs a Krunic-esque  player in their squad. One of the unsung heroes this campaign.  

Franck Kessié (7) – While his 2021-22 term pales in comparison to his previous season, Kessie remains a force in the double pivot.

Amidst all the speculation over his  lack of long-term commitment, the Ivorian’s 2,300+ minutes speak to his impressive record over five years as a mainstay in the midfield.

At times, it did seem like the  contract talks were effecting his ability to bring his best, but the last  remaining member of the 2017 rebuild leaves a proud champion. 

Tiémoué Bakayoko (5.5) – The Frenchman’s second stint in red and black did not go according to plan. The profound lack of usage saw Bakayoko dwindle down the depth  chart as he struggled to convince in the limited action he saw.

His season-highlight was probably his cigar entrance during the title celebrations. Likely to return to Chelsea.

Sandro Tonali (8) – Voluntarily reducing his wages in order to remain at the club, it was  a clear signal that Tonali was out to prove his himself in the red and black shirt he holds so dearly to his heart.

The Italy international showed improved fitness levels enabling him to be a workhorse in the midfield.

More than anything else though, there was obvious maturity and a mentality shift that saw him ushered into the limelight as one of the squad’s top players. Without  question, his three goals down the stretch were massive and serve only as scratch the surface of his potential. 

ATTACKERS  

Samu Castillejo (5.5) -Sparingly used throughout, Samu’s defining moment of the  season arrived from the bench as he edged the club on to come back against Verona.  Nearing an exit in January, the Spaniard stayed on for the ride and reaped the reward with a Scudetto to his name.   

Olivier Giroud (8) – Experienced, dependable and a  man for the big moment his entire career, you will not find many with a better CV than the France forward.

As Zlatan Ibrahimovic was sidelined, Giroud stepped up as an exemplary leader, providing crucial goals one after the other.

His brace to sink Inter was one of the major turning points in the season. The 35-year old bagged 11 goals, two of which set the tone early on matchday  38 to ensure the Serie A trophy would be draped in red and black ribbons.

One of the best,  most successful strikers of this generation adds to an already fantastic legacy. 

Brahim Díaz (6) – After coming on strong early with a winner away to Spezia, Brahim’s  regression post-COVID was obvious.

The former Real Madrid  youngster will turn 23 in August and while it is fair to say he struggled mightily to adequately replace Hakan Calhanoglu, the hope is year three  will see his best shine through. 

Ante Rebić (6) – In an injury-ridden season, Rebic failed to deliver on the same level as the previous two years where he always a second-half star.

The Croatia forward did have his  brief moments, mainly the equaliser in Turin vs. Juventus, but there are questions over whether the time has come to move on.  

Marko Lazetić (n/a) – The player arrived in January, however did not feature for the  club. 

Daniel Maldini (6) – While is season was limited to just 148 minutes, Maldini junior’s main contribution was a headed goal away to Spezia that eventually resulted in a win. It is hard to determine what the future holds as more minutes are necessary for his growth, but it is refreshing to see the  Maldini dynasty continue to win trophies. 

Junior Messias (6.5) – You will not find many stories better than Junior A delivery man turned professional footballer, Messias joined the club from Crotone with skepticism. But the 30-year old more than proved his worth.

Notable moments came late in the Champions League with a winning header away to Atletico Madrid, as well as key assists against Verona and Atalanta.  

Alexis Saelemaekers (6.5) – The Belgian may not have posted the gaudy numbers  you’d demand from a starting winger, but there is undeniable appreciation for his contribution. A tireless runner who presses intensely and  tracks back, Alexis was a useful piece throughout. The biggest criticism is his lack of offensive output and end product.

At 22, he can still expand his game to be more influential in the final third. 

Zlatan Ibrahimović (7) – Limited to only just over 1,000 league minutes, Ibrahimovic still managed to contribute eight goals and three assists.

What the 40-year old  lacked in game time he made up for a profound off-the-field presence as the elder statesmen of the group. The turnaround of this project started with his return in January 2020 and without question his experience and winning aura was felt  amongst a the young talent who had never lifted a trophy.

His now viral speech struck a chord with all invested in the club’s achievement, and what he put his body through to deliver on his promise of a title only further crystallise his status as a Milan legend. 

Rafael Leão (9) – Explosive. Dynamic. Electrifying. Game-changer. Just some of the adjectives to describe just how prolific the attacker has become.

Unplayable with the ball at his feet, the was head and shoulders the best dribbler in the league, and perhaps even world football, proving a near impossible  assignment for any defender.

Scoring 11 goals, adding 10 assists, Leão’s sheer dominance down the stretch earned him Serie A’s MVP award.

A former Sporting academy coach once said the  attacker was better than Cristiano Ronaldo at youth level, and there is now more than a morsel of credibility to that bold affirmation.   

COACH  

Stefano Pioli (9) – From the #PioliOut movement upon arrival to near replacement by Ralf Rangnick, Pioli overcame just about every obstacle to achieve greatness in the dugout.

Steering one of Europe’s youngest sides and picking up very steady results in the process, last season’s flirtatious title contention and second place finish instilled belief.

Overcoming countless injuries, a limited wage bill and raising the quality of a plethora of young stars, Pioli earned his first major trophy in stunning fashion.

Every single player bought in, sacrificed and believed the 11-year drought could be broken. In a sport full of massive egos, distractions and media headlines, Pioli  kept every member engaged and understanding of their role.. Pioli’s on fire, and so is ‘Il Diavolo’.