Stephan El Shaarawy: A vital cog in the AC Milan machine despite injury woes

 

Stephan El Shaarawy of AC Milan

Last season began for Milan in one of the most horrid fashions unlike nothing that many fans had ever seen. In fact, it was the worst start in over 80 years, longer than the vast majority of fans—or even their parents—had been alive.

Yet, despite a beginning that saw them flirt with relegation, really something one shouldn’t be seeing with a team of the Rossoneri’s calibre, they managed to turn things around, rise to the top half of the table before the Christmas break and manage to snatch that all-important third place and last Champions League berth on the last match-day at the expense of Fiorentina.

All of this, given the severe handicap that the team had faced coming into the season was quite impressive, but it wouldn’t have been achieved were it not for one of their youngest players stepping up and at times, single-handedly hauling the struggling Rossoneri back up the league table.

The 20-year-old’s goals were oftentimes the difference between one point, or three, earned for Massimiliano Allegri’s men during a time they desperately needed someone to help them out against opponents that, in previous years, they would probably have had no issue dispatching.

However, following the arrival of international teammate Mario Balotelli in January, il Faraone’s form dipped sharply and he was not able to repeat the blistering form that saw him going into the winter break as the league’s Capocannoniere.

Nonetheless, 16 league goals—19 in all appearances—is certainly impressive for a player who only was playing in Serie B a couple of seasons ago—certainly a much higher output than some more “established” Serie A strikers, one of whom was recently purchased by Milan for a sum higher than ex-Manchester City attacker Carlos Tevez.

El Shaarawy’s woes, as of recently, though, have gone from bad to worse—with reoccurring injuries keeping him sidelined, the latest of which (according to reports, a micro-fracture in his foot) that will see him miss out on some crucial clashes, one being the Ajax Champions League tie this past Tuesday and another the upcoming league fixture with Juventus.

So, obviously, as of now, having him feature more is a moot point until he recovers, but at times, when he did play it appeared that there was more to his struggles than just physical—a glaring lack of confidence which was evident of an individual perhaps not feeling the same kind of support he’d enjoyed previously.

For instance, looking at this summer, in particular his performance in Audi Cup—at times, appeared to be the only player who gave a damn against City in their opening match which they lost 5-3 (with the exception of youngster Andrea Petagna, who had a solid performance).

Sure, it was a friendly, but nonetheless, it showed the player’s commitment to his team, an organization which as of late seems not to be showing the same kind of faith that it had shown when things were really going poorly for them a year ago.