Simone Inzaghi is finding his feet again with Inter Milan, while Paulo Fonseca continues to struggle at AC Milan. Both Milan teams had disappointing starts to the season, with each dropping points in a lackluster 2-2 draw on the opening day. However, the two managers are now on different paths, with Inter sitting three points ahead in the standings, while Milan’s performance has raised concerns about their organization, decision-making, and aggression.
While Inter may not be playing as attractively as in past seasons, they are proving to be solid and effective. After allowing too many chances in their first match against Genoa, they tightened up against Lecce, not conceding a single opportunity until they were already two goals ahead. The absence of striker Lautaro Martinez was felt, but new signing Mehdi Taremi stepped up, showing his international talent even if he didn’t have his best game. Compared to last season’s substitutes, Marko Arnautovic and Alexis Sanchez, the team’s offensive improvement is striking.
Inzaghi has kept a consistent lineup, substituting players only late in the match. However, as the season progresses, he will need to implement a rotation policy despite his preference for stability in the squad.
On the other side of Milan, Fonseca promised a bold and adventurous style when he returned to the club, stating that they should not fear taking risks for victories and entertainment. However, this approach has backfired, especially evident during their match against Parma. The young and energetic Parma team found it alarmingly easy to penetrate Milan’s defense, scoring one goal and coming close to several others. Fonseca failed to adapt, allowing Parma to create clear chances without any tactical adjustments.
Milan’s defensive struggles are becoming alarming, with similar goals conceded through two left-side attacks leading to easy finishes. Despite personnel changes in the defense, the results remained consistent, raising serious questions about the team’s ability to defend at a high level.
Fortunately for Milan, defender Pavlovic has been a bright spot amid their difficulties, playing well despite the overall struggles of the team. He may soon become a key figure as the club seeks to turn their fortunes around. With only one point from two matches, this marks the worst start for Milan in 13 years.
Though time remains to recover, starting with their next match against Lazio, who are also looking to bounce back after a defeat, the pressure is certainly on. Given the current standings, with Inter three points ahead and Juventus and Atalanta potentially extending their leads, Milan must start finding results quickly to avoid falling further behind in the title race.