Finally here we are. After nine months of waiting, the time has come playoffs of the championship Spring 1. Final phase which will open tonight at 6.30pm with a match between Sassuolo and Atalanta. One of the revelations could be the Milan, a team returning from a top-level season. The Rossoneri will be on stage in the other preliminary round against Lazio. Let’s find out what the strengths and weaknesses of the Devil’s year were.
INDEX
SPRING PLAYOFF REGULATIONS 1
Milan, Abate and the return to the playoffs
However it goes, it will be a season to remember for Milan. First of all, for one reason: the last time the Milan managed to qualify for the final stage of Spring championship it was in 2015-2016. From Stefano Nava to Ignazio Abate, an eight-year absence. In between, a relegation to Primavera 2 in 2019, perhaps the lowest point of the Rossoneri youth sector. Thanks to a coach who, since he sat on the U19 bench, has always focused on the very young players. The playoff path is not easy with the Devil who, thanks to the worst placing, will be forced to win all the matches to reach the final, including tomorrow night’s 1st round against Lazio. The last time the Milan he won the Primavera championship in the 1964-1965 season.
The numbers of the Rossoneri team
The Devil closed the regular season Spring 1 in sixth place, with 51 points. A difficult qualification, which reached the final day thanks to a 3-3 draw against Turin. Here, the match against the Granata highlighted in part the aspects on which Abate’s team must improve. There have been lapses in concentration in several challenges this season: the elimination in Italian Cup against Fiorentina or the draw that came on 10 February at home against Sassuolo.
The Milan he ended this season with 54 goals scored and 44 goals conceded. It should be underlined that, after Fiorentina, the Rossoneri are the second team to have scored the most goals in the last quarter of an hour of the match. A year made up of many ups and downs: after a first round that ended in third place, -3 behind leaders Inter, in the second half Abate’s boys had a significant decline, finishing in sixth place in the rankings.
The strength of the green line
It was certainly one of the secrets of Milan’s ride Ignazio Abate. In two years, the Rossoneri coach has managed to build a solid, quality team. A group that this year came one step away from the top of Europe, losing 3-0 in the Youth League final against Olympiacos. Abate was also courageous in launching several under-age players: let’s not forget that the Devil has the youngest squad in the Primavera 1 championship.
One of the emblematic players is Francesco Camarda. From a young age he has shown important qualities, scoring 13 goals in 41 appearances. In addition to being the first 2008 player to have been used in the Primavera 1 championship, the attacker is also the youngest player to ever make his debut in A league. Francesco Camarda and Mattia Liberali will be the notable absentees of these playoffs: having been called up for the U17 European Championship, they will support their teammates from afar. There is no shortage of alternatives in attack: they will think about replacing the two gems Bonomi, Sia and Scottiwith Simmelhack and Cuenca ready to make their contribution from the bench. In addition to Camarda, the other two players who have found space in Serie A are Simic (author of 1 goal) and Zeroli, with the latter who will miss the match against Lazio due to suspension. For many of these kids, their youth career could be over: from next year, perhaps, there will be the Milan U23.
