Malick Thiaw’s Absence: A Significant Blow to AC Milan’s Defense

AC Milan’s defense has suffered a setback with the injury of Malick Thiaw, a key player in the Rossoneri’s project. Since securing his position as a starter under both Paulo Fonseca and Sergio Conceicao, Thiaw has become an indispensable part of the team. The German center-back is expected to be sidelined for approximately two weeks, leaving Milan to cope without his presence.

Milan’s Performance With and Without Thiaw

Thiaw joined AC Milan in the summer of 2022, and his impact on the team’s performance in Serie A this season has been notable. In his absence, Milan has struggled, losing two out of six matches (against Parma and Fiorentina) and drawing against Lazio. The team’s win rate drops to 50% without Thiaw, with their most significant victory being the Milan derby.

In contrast, with Thiaw on the field, Milan has only suffered two defeats in thirteen matches, both against strong opponents Napoli and Atalanta. Thiaw’s presence was crucial in Milan’s Italian Super Cup victory, and his importance is further highlighted in Champions League performances.

Without Thiaw, Milan faced two defeats (against Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen) and a narrow victory against Slovan Bratislava in European competitions. However, with Thiaw playing, the team secured three wins out of three matches in Europe, including a memorable victory against Real Madrid where Thiaw scored his first goal for AC Milan.

These statistics underscore Malick Thiaw’s significance to AC Milan’s defensive stability and overall team performance, making his absence a considerable concern for the club.