Three points in the bag, but with a bitter aftertaste from a final stretch best forgotten. Milan-Atalanta 3-2 was a tale of two halves: dominant and spectacular in the first forty-five minutes, fragile and shaky in the last thirty. Nobody summed up the situation better than Adrien Rabiot, who spoke with sharp, unfiltered words at full time.
Rabiot’s Words: Uncompromising Self-Criticism
The French midfielder stepped in front of the microphones looking far more angry than satisfied — and that is no small detail. In a footballing world where victories tend to paper over cracks, Rabiot chose honesty. «We played very well in the first half — he stated — but then in the second, in the last thirty minutes, we lost the thread of the game and that is a problem. We played brilliantly in the first half, then we made mistakes and a second half like that is worth nothing. Fortunately we won, but in the end I’m not sure we fully deserved it.»
Strong words from the experienced Frenchman, revealing the mindset of a player accustomed to winning and unwilling to accept doing so in a disorganised fashion. His was not destructive criticism, but the signal of a leader demanding the best from his teammates — above all from those who came on as substitutes. The message was clear: substitutes must give everything, not simply manage the lead.
The Mental Collapse: From 3-0 to Nearly Conceding a Draw
The question on everyone’s lips was straightforward: why did a Milan side dominating at 3-0 effectively disappear from the pitch? Rabiot himself ruled out physical causes. Milan had rested on Friday following Thursday’s European fixture, just as Atalanta — dealing with several injuries of their own — had played the same Europa League round. The issue, therefore, was not physical: it was mental.
At 3-0, with 25-30 minutes still to play, the team switched off. The feeling, shared by those inside San Siro, was of a side that had already convinced itself the game was won. A misjudgement that risks becoming a habit, given that against Sassuolo Milan had also nearly thrown away a lead, only to be bailed out by Mike Maignan on both occasions — including a crucial late save from Zappacosta that would have made it 3-3.
Amorim Agrees: «Rabiot Is a Special Player»
Head coach Rúben Amorim also acknowledged the validity of his midfielder’s words. «Rabiot is a special player — the manager explained — he has won everything, including a World Cup. Any team can have a dip, but I like Rabiot’s mentality.» Amorim also admitted he had felt the shift in the stadium’s atmosphere as Atalanta pulled goals back — a crowd that gradually moved from elation at 3-0 to genuine anxiety at the prospect of a 3-3.
On the subject of substitutions, which did not produce the desired effect in the second half, the Portuguese coach will need to reflect carefully. The team began to lose its shape and intensity precisely at the moment the changes were made, and this is something to address in the weeks ahead.
Seven Matchdays, Seven Lessons
After seven league games, Milan continues to collect important points while also gathering valuable insights on which to build. The win against Atalanta — historically a tough opponent for the Rossoneri — is a meaningful result, and for long stretches it was a genuinely brilliant performance. But the margins for improvement are clear, and the fact that a leader of Rabiot’s calibre is pointing them out openly is, ultimately, the most encouraging sign of all: this squad has the ambition and personality to keep growing.
