AC Milan’s highly anticipated debut of their star-studded attack ended in disappointment as they suffered a surprising defeat to Feyenoord in the Champions League. The match, which was expected to showcase the talents of Pulisic, João Félix, Leão, and Giménez, instead turned into a showcase for Feyenoord’s Brazilian winger Paixão, who arrived from the relatively unknown clubs Coritiba and Londrina.
Caciomercato report how the Rossoneri entered the match with high spirits following consecutive victories against Roma and Empoli, as well as their impressive January transfer window. However, even Maignan’s glaring error cannot fully explain the poor performance, as Milan created very little in the remaining 87 minutes to equalize.
The much-hyped “Fab Four” failed to live up to expectations. Leão had a particularly disappointing night, running aimlessly and squandering a clear goal-scoring opportunity before being substituted late in the game. João Félix showed glimpses of his talent, but these were mostly individual flashes rather than team-oriented play. Pulisic struggled with Feyenoord’s intensity and his own precarious physical condition. Giménez, perhaps unsettled by the warm reception from his former fans, failed to register a single shot on target.
What concerns a visibly frustrated Sergio Conceição, beyond individual performances, is the lack of cohesion among the four star attackers. They rarely seemed to look for each other or combine effectively on the pitch.
The performance at De Kuip exposed Milan’s recurring weaknesses. The team appeared fragile and lacking the personality and proper mechanisms to support such a spectacular but individualistic attack. Accommodating Pulisic, João Félix, Leão, and Giménez simultaneously requires time, work, and a level of commitment that was absent in Rotterdam. There are also concerns about how the quality of Leão and João Félix’s play diminishes as they cover more ground without the ball.
As Milan prepare to face Verona on Saturday and the return leg against Feyenoord on Tuesday, the question arises: Will Conceição persist with this formation? It seems unlikely. The Portuguese coach’s post-match frustration suggests a potential return to a 4-3-3 system, with Musah, one of Conceição’s favorites, orchestrating the midfield. In this scenario, the main point of interest will be whether Leão or João Félix starts, with Leão being the prime candidate to retain his place.
