Nkunku disaster

Christopher Nkunku has been disappointing at AC Milan.

Christopher Nkunku arrived in Milan with the aura of a Bundesliga star, but after more than four hours on the field in Serie A, he has not celebrated once. The Frenchman's only goal since joining the "Rossoneri" has come in the Coppa Italia, and in the main tournament, he is gradually losing his position and confidence.

The draw with Parma was a warning. Nkunku was a lacklustre performer, unable to make a difference. He used to put a red balloon in his sock before every game, as a good luck ritual. But after the only goal against Lecce, the balloon remained, a symbol of hopeless waiting.

Milan’s tifosi were starting to lose patience. They looked at the 250-plus minutes without scoring, then remembered the €37 million investment the club had made to bring Nkunku to San Siro. For a club that was traditionally cautious about spending, it was the “blockbuster” deal of the summer. Milan hoped he would bring creativity, speed and dynamism to an attack that relied on counter-attacks and individual inspiration.

But Serie A is not like the Bundesliga. Spaces are tighter, opponents are more compact, and Nkunku’s plays are often stopped before they can make a difference. He still runs, still fights, but is largely out of sync with Milan’s attacking system.

Christopher Nkunku struggles to find himself.

Coach Massimiliano Allegri – famously pragmatic – is even more impatient. He is not the type of coach who likes to take risks in rotation. In his preferred formation, Allegri rarely uses three attacking players. Rafael Leao is sure to play on the left wing, Santiago Gimenez is injured, so the remaining spot is a race between Nkunku and Christian Pulisic. And right now, the balance is tilted heavily towards the American.

Pulisic has his moments of lapses, but he knows how to make his mark. Against Parma, he missed a golden chance but still made life difficult for opposing defenses. Milan even persuaded the U.S. Soccer Federation not to call him up for the November training camp so Pulisic could have more time to train. The goal is clear: he will be on the field in the derby on November 23, when Serie A will play its familiar anthem, with Nkunku sitting on the bench, his eyes sad and the red ball in his sock still uninflated.

Milan believe Nkunku will soon find his scoring touch, but time is running out. He has come to be an important piece, not a luxury reserve. Serie A is impatient with expensive names who play poorly. And if he does not explode soon, Nkunku will become a typical example of the price of dreaming on a stage where every mistake is scrutinized.

The red ball in Nkunku's socks may be a reminder of happier days gone by. But in Milan, only goals can bring him back to life, and save a position that is slipping away.

Source: https://znews.vn/tham-hoa-nkunku-post1601801.html