No room for recency bias: Allegri's convictions prevail over the 'hot boot fallacy'

"Beating Inter last weekend was absolutely crucial in keeping the door even slightly ajar with regards to the title race. The Nerazzurri remain the overwhelming favourites, but Milan did their job by securing a league derby double for the first time since 2010-11, cutting the gap from 10 to seven points."

"The hero on the night was a rather unlikely one in Pervis Estupinan, who wasn't certain to be starting the game until just before, with the hope being that Davide Bartesaghi would recover. He was teed up by Youssouf Fofana who - like the Ecuadorian - had been the subject of widespread criticism."

"To simplify, just because Estupinan had a big moment and a solid performance against Inter does not necessarily mean that he automatically jumps above Bartesaghi in terms of credit in the bank. In this case, the temptation is very obvious: to keep faith in a player that has come through a bit of hardship in his first Serie A season."

Milan's victory over Inter in the derby cuts the gap from ten to seven points, keeping the title race alive. Pervis Estupinan emerged as an unlikely hero, scoring despite uncertainty about his starting status, with Youssouf Fofana providing the assist. Both players had faced criticism prior to the match. With ten games remaining and no room for error, Allegri must make important tactical decisions. The upcoming Lazio fixture presents a dilemma regarding left-back selection, as the temptation exists to retain Estupinan following his strong performance, despite Bartesaghi's prior claims to the position. Beyond psychology, tactical considerations regarding defensive positioning and attacking support influence this choice.

Read at SempreMilan