The Italian Super Cup semifinal has wrapped up with Napoli defeating AC Milan to book a place in the final, and from a Crickex Sign Up style performance review perspective, the result exposed several uncomfortable truths for the Rossoneri. Losing to Napoli was hardly a shock given the opponent’s quality, yet Milan’s on pitch execution fell well below expectations. That gap between ambition and delivery left many supporters frustrated, as the team never truly found its rhythm during the match.
This defeat was about far more than a simple ninety minute result. Once eliminated, Milan were forced to reassess their objectives for the season. A single match knockout meant the Super Cup title defense was over before it began, and combined with an earlier Coppa Italia exit, their hopes of competing on three fronts quickly collapsed into a single focus on Serie A. From that moment, Allegri had no choice but to rethink his priorities and manage the season with far less room for error.
Cup competitions are often dismissed as expendable, but the Super Cup told a different story. The prize money alone makes a strong case, with the winner taking home eleven million euros, a sum no Italian club can afford to ignore. Jokes circulate that if someone like Marotta were handed that figure, he could nearly assemble half a squad. More importantly, the match revealed deep tactical issues. Allegri made several key adjustments, but instead of stabilizing the side, those changes pushed Milan closer to the edge.
In midfield, starting Yashari in place of Modric was a logical call. With Modric approaching forty one, expecting him to play every minute is unrealistic. Giving rotation players a chance to grow into form makes sense. However, alongside Rabiot, Yashari struggled badly. While his safe passing and work rate deserved credit, Napoli’s industrious midfield completely disrupted him. Progression was limited, and creating space became an impossible task.
By contrast, McTominay embodied Napoli’s control and was a major reason they dominated Milan. With the midfield neutralized, Milan’s already thin attacking line received little service, making sustained pressure impossible. The most painful moment came at the back, where De Winter started as a deeper center back. Against Napoli’s striker, especially Højlund, he was thoroughly overpowered, conceding chances and looking fragile throughout. That mismatch was a decisive factor in the defeat.
Zooming out, squad depth and the availability of core players remain Milan’s biggest obstacles. Depth is difficult to fix overnight, and even players like Nkunku continue to start despite inconsistent form. Allegri is clearly facing a situation where, as the saying goes, you cannot make bricks without straw. Aging veterans, a shortage of central defenders, and an unrealistic winter transfer window leave few solutions.
Looking ahead, Milan’s Serie A campaign now depends on maintaining fitness and form, something even a Crickex Sign Up style long term projection would flag as critical. Any disruption could derail their season. Napoli, under Conte, delivered a hard lesson, and Allegri’s more modest talk of fighting for Champions League qualification may be realism rather than false humility.