[William405]

Blog: Abate turn

As Milan face a season-defining derby with Inter, Ignazio Abate prepares for his most significant challenge to his growing reputation as a top full-back. Rob Paton writes

In Milan’s recent faltering, one remaining constant has been Ignazio Abate’s progress at right-back. Performances against Tottenham and Palermo have been in marked contrast to that of the team, and Saturday’s clash with Inter proves significant.

Originally a right-midfielder, Abate’s work on loan at Empoli and Torino convinced Milan to keep the player for 2009-10. With limited options in defence and minimal room for wide midfielders in Leonardo’s 4-3-1-2 shape, Abate was subsequently pushed to right-back, a position he had occasionally played as a youth and during his time in Turin, but was far from technically proficient in.

Abate’s first full season here wasn’t without teething problems, reflective of the necessity and immediacy of the switch, but he has grown to understand the role. Indeed his progress towards the end of the campaign convinced Milan to extend his contract, whilst his work with Massimiliano Allegri sees him on the verge of the national team, and a growing central presence in the dressing room, and played nowhere but at right-back now.

Whilst there is an element of truth to the fact Milan’s added defensive weight in centre-midfield under Allegri has had a positive affect on Abate’s game, it does the 24-year-old’s individual work a disservice. This season has seen a tempering of the boy’s natural attacking tendencies in favour of a more mature defensive manner. Where Abate’s pace, composure on the ball, crossing and shooting ability are useful assets for an otherwise narrow Rossoneri attack, his defensive game has vastly improved this term, notable aspects including dealing with crosses and diagonal balls, his physical handling of opponents and his tactical positioning.

Added to this, Abate’s attacking movement is now more calculated. Working in tandem with left-back Luca Antonini, the duo’s role has been refined under Allegri. Where with Leonardo their support-play was as a secondary, often sporadic outlet, Allegri has patterns of play based entirely on their work-rate down the flanks.

Abate’s turning point is thought to be Cristiano Ronaldo’s visit with Real Madrid in November. Returning from injury to team up with Gennaro Gattuso, his performance was a noteworthy positive from the draw. Before that game the full-back had started just twice under Allegri in 12 games, since then it is 19 starts from a possible 26.

Such has been the player’s form this season, and recently in contrast to his team, those around the player’s camp believe he is close to earning a first international call-up, with many at the club surprised he missed the Slovenia and Ukraine squad.

As Milan face their biggest hurdle yet in chasing the Scudetto, the right-back will face his toughest challenge too. Not only will he line-up against one of Europe’s strongest right-back exponents in Douglas Maicon, but any doubts over his own standing in the role will be fully tested by Inter’s most in-form player this season, Samuel Eto’o.

Abate also carries memories into the fixture. Firstly of last season’s derby where his mistake saw Diego Milito score the first in a 2-0 defeat, and then of this term’s Week 12 derby where two needless yellow cards saw him sent off – the first for pulling back Eto’o, the second for pushing Goran Pandev.

This is also arguably the first big game Abate goes into expected to perform well. Eto’o and Co will guarantee him a psychological and physical challenge, and it will be a mark of how far he has come should he meet it.

Football-italia.


I hope he plays well,and get a national call up.I think he's good defensively,and average in attack.Funny,cause it used to be the opposite.Forza Abate!

This post has been edited by William405: Apr 1 2011, 03:01 PM

[amancik]

Saturday 13 August, 2011
Abate waits for Azzurri chance

Milan full-back Ignazio Abate is determined to earn his place in the Italy squad. “I don’t have as much quality, so always have to go 100kph.”
The 24-year-old started his career as a winger and was transformed into a full-back with the Rossoneri, but is yet to earn a call-up from Cesare Prandelli.

“I am a lad who has to give 100 per cent at all times to improve, because perhaps I don’t have as much quality as Alessandro Nesta or Thiago Silva, so I always have to go 100kph,” he told Sky Sport.

“I have ambitious targets with this team and haven’t won nearly as much as my Milan teammates, so I and the other youngsters in the side have 3,000 more reasons to seek trophies, including the Champions League.

“There are many great full-backs who are doing well at club level and therefore the Italy squad. I just need to keep working and make it difficult for the Coach to drop me every Sunday.”

Abate has had a remarkable career progression considering he has only recently become a full-back.

“This position means you need to be concentrated for all 90 minutes and see many things from another angle.”

Football-italia.net

He has definitely grown into an impressive player over the last two seasons. My respect for him has grown after this statement.

[dst]

"perhaps I don’t have as much quality as Alessandro Nesta or Thiago Silva"

perhaps? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Fillipo Simone]

Respect for the true words. He's managed to improve, but still isn't must learn many things.

[dst]

he's become a better defender but in attack, the only thing he improved is that he now runs straight ahead like an idiot only half as often as he used to.

[Dracoris]

He was integral in the build up play in both goals against Inter and is the best crosser we have on the right. I'd say currently he's doing ok in attack.

[il_diavolo_mtl]

he's become a better defender but in attack, the only thing he improved is that he now runs straight ahead like an idiot only half as often as he used to.

He was integral in the build up play in both goals against Inter and is the best crosser we have on the right. I'd say currently he's doing ok in attack.

While I agree that he has often darted quite linearly up-field, I have noted a significant improvement is his offensive organization, i think he needs to keep improving and who knows, maybe some time soon he'll have the confidence to take a shot... Until then his passing/crossing in the final third combined with our forwards' movement in the box and Ibra magic was essentially our main source of goals throughout the entire year. I hope to see him improve and get the NT nod. That being said i honestly think that Maggio is much better.

[Jack Bauer]

Ignazio Abate is determined to show he deserves his call-up to the latest Italy squad and has rejected talk of being just a short-term solution.

Milan right-back Abate received his first call-up under Cesare Prandelli at the weekend for the international friendlies with Poland and Uruguay.

Azzurri CT Prandelli commented that Abate must develop a greater consistency to his play if he wants to be considered for Euro 2012 contention.

Milan Vice-President Adriano Galliani responded that the youngster has fully merited his call-up, but also suggested that he cannot be used as merely a stopgap.

Abate himself has now commented on the call-up and believes he can become a long-term member of the team.

“I do not feel like a stopgap, I see this call as an opportunity for myself. It will be up to me to prove that I deserve in future to be in the new squad.

“Galliani has always believed in my qualities, I do not feel I am in the centre of a dispute between the club and the national team.

“They are very serene, Galliani has made statements about me, but it remains up to me to merit the position with the Azzurri.”

The converted right-sided midfielder took time to thank the Milan Coaches he has worked under, Leonardo and Massimiliano Allegri.

“How did I get here? For me, the first to play me at right-back was Leonardo, who found this role after I was successful in another as a youth.

“Then came Allegri, to whom I owe a lot, who made me work hard every day to learn the defensive phase and the mechanisms of the back-four.

“It was not easy because I was a winger and was accustomed to think only about attack.”

http://www.football-italia.net/node/12657

[X-Offender]

Abate makes 25 today. Happy birthday Turbo Ignazio! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[William405]

Happy birthday speedy! xD

[kurtsimonw]

Poor tonight, beaten for both goals. Shame with our lack of money he'll be here for good.

[X-Offender]

Poor tonight, beaten for both goals. Shame with our lack of money he'll be here for good.

It was Balzaretti in the first goal.

[kurtsimonw]

Was it? I'll take your word for it.

[han2503]

Bumped

[han2503]

Abate’s future at San Siro isn’t so assured, as he has yet to renew his current contract, which expires next June.

“My agent is talking with the club. Milan knows my requirements, Galliani is satisfied with my work and a solution will be found.

“Then there are many factors that could change things. What hurt me was that I would read the figures I have asked for in order to sign. Figures that are far removed from reality.”

Hopefully his and De Jong's situations are resolved ASAP. They shouldn't let this even linger until January because then you're inviting on other teams to offer them deals.