Nesta more crucial to Milan than any of their talented attackers
Published:Despite the array of attacking talent on display at AC Milan, Thiago Silva feels that it is his central defensive colleague Alessandro Nesta that is the most crucial part of their jigsaw when it comes to winning the Serie A title.
Nesta has been troubled by a number of serious back injuries in recent seasons, which has robbed Milan of perhaps their most experienced and influential defender.
However, the 33-year-old has managed to get a succession of games under his belt during the current campaign, starting ten of Milan’s 12 Serie A games thus far.
Nesta’s inclusion has been one of the reasons that Milan have let in just 11 goals in these fixtures and head the Serie A standings by a single point.
Although attacking foursome Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Alexandre Pato, Robinho and Ronaldinho may get the lion’s share of the Milan plaudits, Silva believes that the performances of Nesta have particularly helped Massimiliano Allegri’s team witness impressive results.
Silva said: “We feel a lot stronger with him beside us. He is our leader.
“It’s not easy to score goals against us and this balance has carried us to the top. I also like Allegri because he cares a lot for the defensive phase of the game.”
Milan’s three-game winning streak has not only moved them to the top of the table, but also to the head of the Serie A winners betting odds market, where they are 5/4 to win the Italian top flight for the first time since 2004.
They host Fiorentina next and have won their last five games against the opposition, with 2001 being the last time that they lost at home.
Milan are 8/15 to beat Fiorentina , but the game is liable to be tight as six of the last seven meetings between the pair have seen two goals or fewer scored.
Fiorentina are 9/2 to beat Milan and win their first away game in Serie A this season. See the whole Milan vs Fiorentina match betting odds market.
