Sports
In Focus: Magic Mike has Milan dreaming of Champions League glory
Mike Maignan has been in sensational form for AC Milan!!
AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan’s stock continues to rise after a string of eye-catching performances for club and country.
The French stopper has missed a large chunk of the season through injury and his return between the sticks in recent weeks has coincided with a distinct improvement in the Rossoneri’s defence.
As he looks to protect Milan’s slender 1-0 lead over Napoli in the Champions League quarter-finals tonight, we turn the spotlight on Maignan and what the future holds for him this summer.
Magic Mike
Maignan’s displays have earned the nickname Magic Mike in the Italian media and it is easy to see why.
He caught the world’s attention with a stunning save on international duty, clawing Evan Ferguson’s header off the goal line to maintain France’s lead in the 1-0 win over the Republic of Ireland last month.
He has been producing similar miracles in the Champions League and Serie A, too.
His crucial stop to keep out Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s close-range effort late on in last week’s first-leg win over Napoli was another to add to his scrapbook and means his side head into tonight’s second leg as narrow leaders in the tie.
Boss Didier Deschamps said after that win in Dublin: “It was an incredible save and we know what Mike is capable of. Hugo was captain for a long time and he also made great saves.
“Mike has great qualities, his stature and his mentality. He saved a penalty last Friday, but this was more significant.
“I never had any doubts about him. He is a great leader and a great player.”
Impact at the back
But it is not just flashy saves that is seeing the former Paris Saint-Germain youngster get such rave reviews.
The underlying numbers of Milan’s mixed season so far show Stefano Pioli’s side are a much better team with their first-choice keeper back in the XI.
With a calf injury keeping Maignan out between the start of October and mid-Feburary, veteran stopper Ciprian Tatarasanu, 37, had been deputising in goal.
The Serie A champions conceded goals at a rate of 1.29 per 90 minutes during that period in all competitions, with only nine wins in 16 league games derailing their title defence.
Since the ex-Lille ace returned against Atalanta at the end of February, Milan have let slip just 0.78 goals per match.
That nine-game sequence includes two successive clean sheets in Champions League knockout clashes against Tottenham and Napoli.
