Rafael Leao and Mike Maignan stole headlines after Milan‘s qualification to the Champions League semis, but Lorenzo Bettoni highlights three hidden stars who helped the Rossoneri beat Napoli and earn a spot among Europe’s best four clubs this season.
No doubt that Leao’s sprints and Maignan’s saves were crucial in Milan’s first qualification to the Champions League semis in 16 years. The Portuguese ace contributed to both Rossoneri’s goals over the two legs with an assist in each match, while the France keeper produced several impressive saves, most famously one to deny Giovanni Di Lorenzo at San Siro and one frustrating Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s attempt from the spot at the Stadio Maradona.
If Milan had a chance to progress to the Champions League semis, they had to nullify the Georgian ace and Maignan was not the only one able to do so. Captain Davide Calabria was one of Milan’s hidden gems in the last two games against the Partenopei. The Georgia international proved to be a tough opponent, as expected, but the Italian defender always gave him a hard time down the left flank.
Calabria showed incredible focus throughout 180 minutes which were probably the most challenging ones for Kvara since his arrival in Naples last summer. Calabria was always in the right position and used his body wisely both at San Siro and at the Stadio Maradona and although the Georgian sometimes managed to squeeze past him, Calabria always had a teammate close by, ready to further reduce the space for the Partenopei star.
Brahim Diaz and Rade Krunic did help Calabria defensively and so did Sandro Tonali who was probably Milan’s most dynamic midfielder over the two legs. Brahim even inspired the Rossoneri’s winner at San Siro, conducting a counter-attack finalised by Ismael Bennacer, while Krunic made a huge contribution to stopping Kvara. In the first leg in Milan, he started by gifting the ball inside the box to his most dangerous opponent, but quickly made up for it with an icy-cold goal-line clearance. In Naples, he was often the second man pressing Kvaratskhelia and helping Calabria reduce the options for the talented 22-year-old.
Stefano Pioli praised the ex-Empoli midfielder after Tuesday’s draw in Naples, which was enough to earn a spot in the Champions League semis.
“Rade has this way of reading the game that few other players have, both with attacking and defensive moves. It takes patience at a club like Milan and to be able to handle pressure, which is what we did today,” he said.
The Italian tactician had heard complaints from Simon Kjaer during the international break in March. The Denmark captain demanded more playing time at San Siro and when Pioli returned to a four-man defence, the ex-Roma and Palermo centre-back was often involved, resulting in one of the best Rossoneri performers across both Champions League games against the Partenopei.
“At the end of the day, the coach decides, but the match against Tottenham in the Champions League was probably my best after the injury, so I am annoyed that I haven’t played since then,” the experienced defender had said during the break.
“I’ve been training with no stops for two months, something I hadn’t done for eight years, so my shape has nothing to do with it, I am at my best.” He was not wrong.
Victor Osimhen managed to score Napoli’s only goal in the last three games against the Rossoneri. The latest encounter at the Stadio Maradona was also Osimhen’s first appearance against the Diavoli this season but, despite his goal, had a hard time against the dominating Denmark centre-back.
Milan’s tactical approach also helped the Kjaer. The Rossoneri mainly sat back and waited for Napoli and the Dane was in the best condition to show his ‘old style’ defensive abilities against younger and dynamic opponents such as Osimhen, the current Serie A leading scorer, and his partner in crime Kvara.
Kjaer was praised by another Milan ‘senator’, the experienced Alessandro Florenzi, after the final whistle in Naples. The Italian shared a picture of Kjaer from the Stadio Maradona dressing room, writing: ‘Protect me everywhere’ a common phrase for the Christian worshippers when praying to saints.
Kjaer could not help Milan in the second part of their title-winning campaign in 2021-22 due to a cruciate ligament injury, but his experience on the European stage and his defending art against Napoli proved to be crucial at San Siro and at the Stadio Maradona showing that there was more than just Leao and Maignan behind Milan’s Champions Leauge accomplishment.
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