Looking back over Alexandre Pato’s career for the Rossoneri and one can clearly see the strengths and weaknesses of the young centre forward. In 119 appearances for the club in all competitions, Pato has scored 55 goals and assisted on 14 occasions. The stat that strikes the reader almost immediately is the goals tally.
The former Internacional starlet is a prolific forward, a striker who blossomed instantaneously at a ridiculously tender age, in one of the toughest leagues in the world. Pato is Milan’s best finisher by a comfortable distance. This fact is all the more impressive when you take into consideration the star studded attack training at Milanello. So, should we accept him as a key player and forget the debate right away. Well, following are some points to ponder on, which might make you think otherwise.
Fourteen assists in 119 games for the club; not entirely hopeless for a classic number nine. But if the team is built with three bullish midfielders solely hoping that the front three conjure some magic, then that stat is worrying. Milan do not have a creative trequartista in their ranks. Max Allegri’s system demands its front three to create and finish while the rest simply chase the ball and hound the opposition. In such a scenario, for a forward to create an assist every eight games is simply unacceptable. Yes, he is a fantastic finisher, but while he is in the team, the attack becomes predictable. Pato’s inability to create is a major deterrent to his success and that of the current system.
Let me substantiate. When Pato starts, two of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Prince Boatang, Robinho and Antonio Cassano play beside/behind him. In such a case, the front three become predictable and one-dimensional. Oppositions can read the game with relative ease, fully knowing Pato’s main strength is his radical pace, while he solely depends on the other two forwards to create. I am not suggesting it’s easy to stifle the other two. I am saying it’s easier to do so with Pato around. Pato prefers a more central route and is definitely more effective playing down the middle. But when the others play together in Pato’s absence, the fluidity and mobility of the front three is a sight to behold.