GdS: All the reasons behind Milan's collapse into crisis as eight-point gap disappears

"Yes, but only up to a point. It's true that the mind moves the legs, but when the ball carrier raises that head and sees nine team-mates standing still on their respective turf, it's time to reflect on their physical condition as well. Alexis Saelemaekers's lungs have been empty for weeks, Rafael Leao has been hampered by groin pain for months, Adrien Rabiot is fatigued, and Christian Pulisic missed Sunday's game amid terrible form."

Milan’s Champions League advantage has disappeared, with the gap to fifth place falling from eight points after 33 games to zero after 36. Two wins in the final two matches are now needed for a top-four finish, aided by head-to-head advantages over Roma and Como. Recent form includes two defeats and five goals conceded against opponents not positioned as strong threats. The decline is described as a complete collapse rather than fixable issues, with points dropping from 42 in the first half to 25 in the second half. Physical intensity and running have fallen, while mental factors alone cannot compensate. Several players are affected by fatigue or injuries, including Saelemaekers, Leao, Rabiot, and Pulisic missing a match.

Read at SempreMilan