When a team's attack struggles, the spotlight naturally falls on the forwards. But for AC Milan, the real culprit behind their recent slide might be hiding in plain sight—a defense that was once their greatest strength has suddenly become a glaring weakness.

Under Massimiliano Allegri, defensive solidity has always been the Rossoneri's calling card. Yet over the past 10 matches, that foundation has crumbled. After conceding just 20 goals in their first 28 games—with an impressive 13 clean sheets—Milan have seen their defensive record take a sharp turn for the worse. Goalkeeper Mike Maignan has been beaten 12 times in the last 10 rounds, nearly doubling their goals-against average from 0.71 to 1.5 per game.

The numbers tell a story that goes deeper than just bad luck. While Milan are allowing roughly the same number of total shots (about 11 per game), the quality of chances has spiked. Opponents are now putting 4.25 shots on target per match, up from 3.25 earlier in the season. Even more telling: Milan have conceded in the first half seven times in their last eight outings—compared to just nine times in all their previous fixtures combined.

Individual errors have plagued the backline. Strahinja Pavlovic has been the only consistent performer throughout the campaign. Even Maignan, usually a rock between the posts, has looked ordinary—if not below par—in recent weeks. The wing-backs, meanwhile, appear exhausted, struggling to make an impact at either end of the pitch.

Allegri has a reputation for doing just enough to get results, but this season's defensive slide raises questions about squad depth and rotation. The central defensive trio of Fikayo Tomori, Matteo Gabbia, and Pavlovic has worked well when available, but relying on the same three players for an entire campaign is a risky strategy. Koni De Winter has shown flashes, but consistency remains elusive.

For Milan fans, the silver lining is that a top-four finish could still mask these issues. But if the Rossoneri want to compete on multiple fronts next season, shoring up that leaky defense has to be priority number one.