Gimenez shares in AC Milan's penalty woes: 'Pulisic wanted to give him confidence'

So far, AC Milan has been awarded eight penalties this Serie A season, a figure matched only by Fiorentina.

However, Milan’s conversion rate of 50% (4 out of 8) is alarmingly low for a team competing at the highest level. This poor return from the spot is comparable to Udinese (2 out of 4) and Torino (1 out of 2), and only slightly better than the dismal records of Como (0 out of 2) and Genoa (0 out of 2). The other fifteen Serie A teams have all managed a higher conversion ratio, which highlights the scale of Milan’s inefficiency.

The ramifications of these missed penalties have been significant. All four of Milan’s missed spot-kicks have directly affected match outcomes. Had they converted all of their opportunities, AC Milan would currently have five more points on the board, which could have made a substantial difference in their league position. The pressure to improve their success rate from the spot is growing, as every missed penalty becomes increasingly costly in their pursuit of a top-four finish.

The context of Santiago Gimenez’s miss against Napoli adds further frustration. Despite having reliable penalty takers available, AC Milan’s approach to their spot-kick duties remains somewhat unsettled. Christian Pulisic, who had taken the most recent penalties for the team, was expected to step up again when the opportunity against Napoli arose. Rafael Leão even handed the ball to Pulisic, indicating the American was the preferred choice in such situations. However, Pulisic made the unexpected decision to pass the responsibility to Gimenez, hoping to boost his teammate’s confidence during a challenging period.

“Normally, we have three players who take penalties for us,” AC Milan coach Sergio Conceição explained during the post-match press conference. “Pulisic wanted to give Gimenez some confidence. It’s not up to me to tell the players what to do, but overall I’m happy because this is a sign of unity.” While Conceição’s comments suggest that he values the camaraderie and support among his players, the decision to allow Gimenez to take the penalty has been questioned by fans and pundits alike.

Serie A Penalty Statistics (Current Season):

AC Milan’s penalty struggles have now become a talking point across Serie A. With the club pushing for a top-four finish and aiming for success in multiple competitions, their inefficiency from the spot is a weakness that needs addressing. As the season progresses, how Milan chooses to approach their penalty-taking responsibilities could have a profound impact on their overall success.