Santiago Gimenez arrived at Milan amid nice expectations, and for a quick second, he appeared set to ship on them. The Mexican ahead had a dream begin, scoring three objectives in his first seven appearances for the Rossoneri, shortly successful the hearts of the followers.
Since his arrival in Italy, Gimenez has been working exhausting to combine into life at San Siro. On the pitch, he shortly made an influence. His debut within the Coppa Italia noticed him help Joao Felix, and in his first Serie A match in opposition to Empoli, he discovered the again of the online after coming off the bench.
Extra objectives adopted, together with one within the Rossoneri’s in the end disappointing Champions League conflict in opposition to Feyenoord. His goal-per-minute ratio has been robust, outpacing earlier Milan strikers like Alvaro Morata, who struggled to make his mark.
Nonetheless, up to now few weeks, the 23-year-old’s kind has waned. He has failed to attain within the membership’s final three league matches, along with his solely current contribution being an help for Rafael Leao within the draw in opposition to Bologna. With Milan’s season unraveling—a slide down the Serie A desk, elimination from Europe, and tactical uncertainty—the Mexican striker has been caught in the midst of the disaster.
Regardless of this, there’s nonetheless religion in him. He stays Milan’s first-choice striker, and whereas the Crimson and Blacks have suffered, his willpower and work fee on the sphere haven’t been questioned.
What did Sergio Conceicao say about Santiago Gimenez?
With Milan struggling, questions have been raised about Gimenez’s current dip in kind. Is he nonetheless recovering from an harm? Has he struggled with the transition to Italian soccer?
Milan boss Sergio Conceicao addressed the considerations forward of their upcoming conflict in opposition to Lecce, providing a measured response to the criticism Gimenez has confronted. “He’s working. He has come to a brand new league, and that’s not straightforward in any respect—it’s completely different in Italy. There’s all the time a interval of adaptation, it’s completely regular. We haven’t neutered his high quality by placing a participant subsequent to him.”
“We’re engaged on it, and he’s very targeted on his work. He’s had week of coaching. I’ve seen many gamers who’ve come to Italy, see [Mateo] Retegui, they usually struggled initially. It’s not straightforward to return to Italy and rating 15-20 objectives immediately. He desires it, and I need it too, however he’s working.”
Highway to redemption
Milan’s season has gone from unhealthy to worse, and their hopes of securing European soccer now relaxation on a powerful end to the Serie A marketing campaign. Whereas the Champions League could also be out of attain, a Europa League or Convention League spot remains to be attainable. For that to occur, Santiago Gimenez must rediscover his goalscoring contact.
His numbers in his first few weeks underneath Conceicao recommend that he has the power. What he wants now are objectives that actually matter—match-winning strikes that herald three factors. Gimenez stays a key determine not only for the Serie A large’s current however for its future.
The membership’s world following has grown along with his arrival, and Milan have acquired elevated media protection from Mexico and South America. The ahead’s presence within the squad is an funding for the membership, not solely by way of objectives but additionally by way of increasing the membership model.