Legends depart from Rossoneri

Alessandro Nesta probably knows when his time is up. His decision to quit Milan comes on the back of a rather poor season, by his lofty standards. Slow to react, physically weaker in the challenge, and often lacking in concentration, Nesta is a shadow of the player he once was. The man may have few regrets, having won much during his time in the fashion capital. But perhaps, it’s his sheer refusal to appear mediocre that has triggered this decision.

Gennaro Ivan Gattuso and Pippo Inzaghi depart for entirely different reasons. Gattuso leaves, hoping to end his career as a footballer playing regular football. Inzaghi too, shares the same belief. But their motivations aside, the legends leave the club in a state of an identity crisis. The old guard will be replaced. A new image will be formed. But initial impressions do not make for pleasant viewing.

Gattuso has handed the baton over to Antonio Nocerino, indirectly bequeathing his legacy to him. Nocerino is said to be a more technical player with a wider skill set. But given the role Gattuso specialised in, Nocerino is not half the player ‘Rinho’ once was. Nocerino is an average midfielder coming off a flattering season. He lacks the grit, determination, or the solidity to don the mantle of the bearded terrier. It is too soon to gauge the level of influence Nocerino might impact upon the dressing room in the days to come, but the high spirited Gattuso will be missed. His passionate cries of victory, warrior-like approach to games which breathed life into many dead sides in the past, will fade away with his absence.

Inzaghi’s heir is a ‘flying donkey’, one who Milan’s biggies under-rate. The youngster may never sport the number 9 on a red and black striped jersey. Inzaghi walks, with his baton firmly held in his hand. Not only was Inzaghi one of the finest poachers in the modern era, he was also one of the most spirited ones. He may have featured less under Leonardo and Massimiliano Allegri, but that does not reduce the love, affection or the resonance Milan fans shared with him. Some of Milan’s current forwards are bigger names, but lack the drawing power of Pippo. His decisiveness in big games, his vast experience and his gentlemanly conduct are irreplaceable. Milan’s feeble attempts of displacing the veteran have repeatedly fallen flat, and it is quite likely that it will continue to. Inzaghi’s USP is his uniqueness, and clearly, he is one of a kind.

Many herald Nesta as the finest defender in the modern game. The elegance of his tackle, the brilliance of his positioning, and his ability to read the game are products of experience and in-born talent, which are quickly becoming instinct, due to the increased emphasis on an attacking brand of football. But the visible attributes aside, Nesta’s apparent interest to mentor young defenders will be sorely missed. Thiago Silva matured into the player he is, largely due to the efforts of the former-Lazio man. Milan’s next best defender, Philippe Mexes is a hot head, who lacks the quality, personally and professionally, to become an example to inspire or lead future defenses. Silva is still raw, and his future is as unpredictable as can get. The loss of Nesta creates a mammoth sized hole in the heart of defense, which the biggest and best defenders in the world would struggle to step in and fill. His invaluable leadership, or rather the lack of in games he has not played in, is likely to become a ghost that constantly haunts Rossoneri defenses in the future.

The intention of this piece is not to promote a pessimistic ideology about the future of the club. It intends to reflect upon the mismanagement of dealing with the succession of players from old to new, or the transition from the old cycle to a new one. A colossal exodus of esteemed professionals, who were the fulcrum of a highly successful Milan team for a decade, is likely to hurt the club in the short term. The immediate effects will be felt intangibly, with potential dressing room break downs and collapses in big games and with increased number of red cards being flashed in the faces of Milan players. The new group, which also contains traces of experienced professionals from the past cycle, lacks leaders who can edify and consolidate a fragmented bunch of new comers. Or for that matter, even the loonies who seem to have behaved well since their arrival. Some unseen forces glued this team together for awhile. That glue needs to be reapplied using a different measure. Finding that measure, those tools, will be the challenge going forward.

Follow Rajath Kumar @rajathkumar