Saelemaekers

Milan confirmed the purchase of Alexis Saelemaekers to Milan for €7M and so far the Belgian has justified his price and capped it off with a goal against Bologna, his first for Milan.

Many people were skeptical when the virtually unknown player was signed as a temporary replacement for the outgoing Suso. But however Saelemaekers has been more than been a deputy rather taking the vacant RW position by the scruff of its neck off from Leão, Paqueta and Bonaventura

So why does Pioli prefer Saelemakers ?

Simple answer is his workrate. Saelemakers provides an outlet for tireless workrate and helps in the sort of intense press that Pioli seems to have imposed in his tactical tweak since the break.

Simple answer is his workrate. Saelemakers provides an outlet for tireless workrate and helps in the sort of intense press that Pioli seems to have imposed in his tactical tweak since the break.

In attack Saelemaekers offers as an outlet to break the press and start quick counter. In the image below against Lazio you can see how Theo who is being pressed by 3 Lazio players makes a horizontal pass who switches play very quickly for Saelemaekers to run at the Lazio defence. Sadly Saelemaekers made the wrong choice and couldn’t convert it to a goal.

However vs Bologna it was the agressive press followed by Saelemaekers that made skorupski commit an error and kick the ball out to Rebic and the move ended in a goal for Saelemaekers. (He is the furthest player forward)

However vs Bologna it was the agressive press followed by Saelemaekers that made skorupski commit an error and kick the ball out to Rebic and the move ended in a goal for Saelemaekers

WHAT HE CAN IMPROVE

Saelemaekers is only 21 years old. He still has a long way to go and you can see that the player is putting the hours on the training ground and the field. A good attitude is a step to success. Saelemaekers still however has a lot of areas to improve.

While his first touch is good enough his creativity with the ball and his vision are not in requisite with that needed from a right winger. His crossing needs to improve a lot. Dribbling wise Saelemaekers may not be a Messi but he still needs to find way to beat his man and with his pace he could go past. With Saelemaekers Milan have a solid option on the right to press and win balls and help those in midfield but as a right winger Saelemaekers needs to improve his attacking play. Maybe the arrival of Ralf Rangnick can do him a world of good.