PRIMAVERA: AUTUMN IN SEARCH OF CONFIRMATION

We have now entered the international break, and it's time to assess manager Ignazio Abate's Primavera's first part of the campaign. In recent weeks, the Rossoneri recorded a number of positive results, including two wins on the bounce across all competitions. This came as a huge boost after a patchy start to the season. On either occasion, the players showed a great attitude and played extremely well but still found themselves on the wrong side of fine margins, which was exacerbated by a number of lapses in concentration that affected their overall spirited performances.

However, the coaching staff deserves credit for keeping the confidence within the team, an act of bravery which undeniable paid dividends. As a result, two league wins followed, sandwiched by a narrow defeat at Fiorentina. Interestingly, the squad rekindled their goalscoring form, bagging 11 goals in the process as they now have the third-best attack of the competition. The league's top scorer Youns El Hilali made a telling contribution to the squad's fortunes with five goals to his name.

The squad's overall progress is down to a marked defensive improvement. Our Primavera shipped two goals in the last three games, which stands in stark contrast to the seven goals Abate's men leaked in the opening two matchdays. The high-water mark of the season was the convincing 3-0 rout of Dinamo Zagreb in the second round of the Youth League. 

That particularly memorable victory in the premier competition at youth level, which saw the Primavera climb to the top of group E, should serve as an added incentive to keep the momentum going. But the jury is still out on the new-found defensive solidity of Abate's squad, not least when games are coming thick and fast after the international break. During that busy period, we will face Chelsea twice in the Youth League and both Bologna and Empoli in the Primavera 1.

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