March has come to an end, with four matches completed and a record to look back on with satisfaction: three wins and one defeat, from a team that showed it knows how to handle the games that truly matter. From Cremona to the derby, via the trip to Rome and Torino’s visit to San Siro, the month delivered several memorable moments. In the running for the March MVP award are Strahinja Pavlović, Pervis Estupiñán, Youssouf Fofana and Koni De Winter.
Strahinja Pavlović turned March into something of a personal statement. The Serbian centre-back scored twice: the 89th-minute header in Cremona that helped securing all three points, and the powerful left-footed strike against Torino that clipped the underside of the crossbar before beating Alberto Paleari. But it was not only about the goals. It was the assurance with which he led the defence in the absence of Matteo Gabbia, his physical presence in every duel, and his ability to maintain concentration in matches where the margin for error was zero.
The derby had two standout performers: Pervis Estupiñán and Youssouf Fofana. It was the French midfielder who spotted the run from the full-back and delivered the assist that led to the Ecuadorian’s first goal for AC Milan. Yet the pair did not stop there: Fofana ended the month by scoring the third goal against Torino at the moment the match needed to be buried, while Estupiñán fulfilled the role designed by Allegri on the left flank – attacking the space behind the opposing full-backs – with surprising ease for a player who had begun the match on the bench.
Koni De Winter came into March as someone not seeking the spotlight, yet drew it anyway. Called upon to cover Gabbia’s absence during this crucial stage of the season, the Belgian defender responded with a series of solid performances: in Cremona, against Inter, and against Torino, always in the right place and making the right decision. AC Milan’s defence has been one of the team’s strengths this season, and De Winter has managed to fit seamlessly into the back line on merit.