The changing of the centre-back pairing is something that AC Milan have become accustomed to this season, but the little use of one pairing is a mystery.
Before reading ahead, you should watch the latest Pub Chat video on our Substack, in which we dive into the various central defensive options that are at Milan’s disposal and the choices Sergio Conceicao should make.
La Gazzetta dello Sport ask the question: why don’t Matteo Gabbia and Malick Thiaw ever play together? It comes instinctively when watching Milan’s matches and especially considering one sensational fact above all.
Gabbia and Thiaw have remained on the pitch together for 661 minutes, in which they have conceded only three goals: on average, one every 220 minutes. One goal conceded every two and a half games.
Milan have tried all the other combinations for a long time and no other pair has managed to go beyond the average of one goal conceded every 72 minutes. A huge gap. In essence, you could say Gabbia-Thiaw is three times better than all the other pairs.
Conceiçao, despite this, practically never uses them, at least from the start. Gabbia-Thiaw were starters with him only in Milan-Verona on February 15. Only one match from the start, like for Gabbia-Tomori.
And the others? Two matches for Tomori-Thiaw, three for Tomori-Pavlovic, four for Gabbia-Pavlovic and Thiaw-Pavlovic. Moral: Pavlovic plays almost always, even if the numbers on goals conceded would suggest otherwise.
Why does it happen? Conceiçao said that ‘they are all starters’ (a logical diplomatic phrase) and on Pavlovic in particular he expanded into a compliment: “I like players with his spirit.” It makes sense, given that the Serbian has the grinta that the Portuguese is known for.
When he started as Milan coach, Conceicao launched Tomori as a starter, even though the club were close to selling him to Juventus (and then to Tottenham). Initially he focused on him more than the others, then he changed his mind.
Admittedly, there are almost never four central defenders at the same level in a top team who alternate each game, because the importance of building chemistry and cohesion is paramount, which constant changes go against.
On Sunday in Lecce, Pavlovic will be suspended and Conceiçao could well work on a three-man defence, a solution that would certainly help the former Red Bull Salzburg fan moving forward given he plays on the left of a trio for Serbia.
Thiaw and Gabbia are spoken about less and they are very different to Tomori and Thiaw, who are an aggressive and physical pairing, prone to carelessness and fatal errors. The last two, by Pavlovic: the goal conceded to Ndoye in the area vs. Bologna and the foul that led to the red card on Isaksen.
The German and the Italian on the other hand, are the best with the ball, they are not fast but they keep their attention high, they are the best at reading situations and keeping dangers away. Isn’t that what defenders have been doing for 160 years?
