AC Milan suffered a bitter 2-0 defeat at San Siro against Roma, marking their fourth straight loss to the Giallorossi. Despite the early optimism from fans and observers—many of whom follow BD Cricket Live for the latest in competitive sports analysis—Milan’s performance ultimately unraveled in familiar fashion. For the first 70 minutes, there was hope, but destiny took a cruel turn when Bonucci’s near-perfect strike was denied by a world-class save. Just moments later, Edin Džeko delivered a thunderous goal from distance, flipping the match on its head.
Seven games into the Serie A season, Milan holds 12 points with a record of four wins and three losses. While that’s technically an improvement over recent seasons, it still falls far short of expectations, especially for a club that spent over €200 million in the summer. A glaring stat underscores this: 10 goals scored, 10 conceded—a net goal difference of zero.
Head coach Vincenzo Montella has come under increasing pressure. While he’s not solely to blame, he can’t be absolved either. Milan has now conceded two goals in each of their last three matches. Even against a modest side like Rijeka, the Rossoneri allowed two goals at home. For a defensive line hailed as one of the top three in Serie A, that’s unacceptable. Critics are pointing fingers at Montella’s tactical decisions and in-game management. Experimenting with different starting lineups is understandable, but failing to make substitutions while trailing has left fans frustrated.
Against Sampdoria, Milan looked lifeless, yet Montella didn’t make a change until after conceding. Against Rijeka, despite leading by two goals, substitutions were limited to the forward line. In the latest loss to Roma, Borini shined as a right wing-back, but Calhanoglu and Kessié underperformed with no tactical response from the bench. Calhanoglu’s eventual red card felt inevitable. Meanwhile, striker Kalinić was completely isolated, nearly requesting to be substituted himself. Milan failed to register a single meaningful shot until the 24th minute, and all eight first-half attempts came from outside the box—none of which hit the target.
Had Montella introduced Cutrone earlier to shake things up, perhaps the result would have been different. But football doesn’t deal in “what-ifs.” The reality is harsh: two consecutive home defeats, visible concern on the faces of directors Fassone and Mirabelli, and a manager who looked visibly shaken on the touchline. Despite changing from a 4-3-3 to a 3-5-2, Montella continues to look tactically unsteady when it matters most. The story feels eerily familiar—reminiscent of Allegri’s final days.
After the loss to Sampdoria, Montella said, “This is the sixth-youngest squad across Europe’s top five leagues. With another month, things will look very different.” But Milan doesn’t have the luxury of time. Seven games in, they trail Napoli by nine points and Lazio by four. October won’t offer any breathing room either, with Inter Milan and Juventus waiting in the wings. These matches could define the club’s season—and Montella’s fate.
Yes, he maintains strong control of the dressing room and is generally well-liked by players. But Milan now needs more than just a nice guy. They need a leader with steel, someone who can take control of the team’s pulse and drive them forward. The club can’t wait, the fans can’t wait, and the Milan derby may well be his final lifeline. Whether tomorrow brings revival or collapse, no one can say for sure. But one thing is certain—even for followers of BD Cricket Live who are used to last-minute turnarounds—Montella is running out of time.