AC Milan secured a hard-fought and much-needed three points against Empoli last night, and it came thanks to the ultra-attacking second-half team.
As Calciomercato.com write, the question among Milan fans and pundits at the moment is unanimous: is a side with Christian Pulisic, Joao Felix and Rafael Leao behind Santiago Gimenez really sustainable?
The entry of Pulisic, Gimenez and Leao (and the expulsion of Marianucci) changed the game at the Stadio Carlo Castellani last night, with the American winger setting up the Portuguese and then the Mexican for the two goals.
The objectives are known to most: to get into the top four and to go as far as possible in both the Champions League and the Coppa Italia, perhaps taking home the second trophy of the year after the Supercoppa won in Riyadh. The ultra-attacking side excites, but seems to raise questions about balance.
Pros
The away match in Empoli made us understand how the four can all play together, sharing the field. Joao Felix acts as a playmaker providing a link between the departments, often and willingly dropping deep to look for the ball.
Pulisic starts from the right and exploits the spaces, Leao attacks from the opposite flank and Gimenez fills the penalty area, a movement that Milan necessarily needed. Such an offensive quartet brings more solutions, creativity, flair and that touch of magic that the San Siro crowd wants to get used to again.
To make this line-up sustainable, all these players must be willing to sacrifice themselves even in the defensive phase. Such an ambitious game can only be used through a quality defensive and non-possession phase, given the presence of only Youssouf Fofana as a ‘destroyer’ further back.
If anything, the players behind are more likely to try and contribute creatively, such as Tijjani Reijnders in midfield and Theo Hernandez on the left. The Champions League match in Rotterdam against Feyenoord could help us understand if the 4-4-2 is really workable for Milan.
Cons
The risks are clear: unbalancing the team too much, defending too little and suffering too many counter-attacks. With an eye also on Reijnders , the best scorer of this Milan together with Pulisic: the Dutchman risks moving his range of action back, becoming more of a prompter than a finisher.
The fear is that the Rossoneri will remain blocked more in the midfield, so as not to expose Milan to further holes in the middle of the field. Therefore, for the mechanism to work, everything will depend on the willingness to sacrifice of the four up front and on the orders imposed by Conceicao.
The coach always been clear on the importance of the defensive phase: “A collective works when the players are willing to sacrifice themselves, to get out of their comfort zone.” The sustainability of this ‘All Star version’ of Milan will depend on the will of Pulisic, Joao Felix, Leao and Gimenez.
Joao Felix and Leao must play defence like Pulisic or even better – back than Brahim Diaz.
Brahim was excellent runner and he covered right flank and attacking midfield with proper playing defences.
Felix is more 2nd striker and probably won’t do the defences regularly
Felix dropped into midfield next to Reijnders after Tomori’s red card. He does a lot of defensive work, way more than Leao. He was playing for Diego Simeone for 3,4 years. If you wanna play for Simeone you have to do defensive work.
I’ve been watching these two games over and over again. Felix has been working hard defensively even covering for Leao multiple times.
It says a lot of the people themselves who can’t see any difference in Felix’s and Leao’s defensive efforts. 🙂
I’m anxious to see more from Puli-Santi connection but I’d like to see Puli play closer to the goal. Maybe it’s just me but he doesn’t seem really content playing deeper on that flank. He’s doing 60% of defending down that flank and 40% of attacking the posts.
I think we’re better off with 4231 or at least 343. 433 would be ideal but not without a DM.
433 n 4231 has been MILAN downfall in recent months. Ever since we lost kessie n tonali, this formation doesn’t quite work well. Opposite teams found ways to Crack up MILAN defense and foil the attack
Bondo resembles Kessie and Fofana Tonali. With Bondo and Fofana in pivot positions and Reijnders in AM this would be a lot more balanced then before.
Fofana – Bondo
Puli – Reijnders – Leao/Joao
Santi
433 as I said we lack proper DM but everyone else are more suited for it. That is why I’d rather go with 343.
Felix worked hard defensively. Leao is not made for defensive duties but his explosiveness going forward makes up for it. We only need Leao to defend his zone; pressing, marking and what not. Just take good care of the 15 metres around him.
He runs like a headless chicken in every game, not very good to watch
Let me put it this way — He would’ve never been in Milan had Cardinale not became the Milan owner.
I think it works if we rest Tijji and play Fofana and Bondo in a defensive double-pivot. Or we just say we’re going to win every game 4-3.
Won’t be good for my heart but I’ll take us winning every game in all comps 4-3 until the end of the season. At least that way we’ll secure a Treble.
Haha.
This formation will be saved for instances when we wanna go “all attack mode”. Unfortunately, this happens more than too often this season.
Il prefer 3-2-4-1
Tomori Thiaw pavlovic
Fofana Bondo
Puli musah reinnders leao
Gimenez
We can reach champions league football or even coppa italia.
With this formation we need to have a competitive squad depth in all areas for rotation ,which we don’t so that’s a disadvantage.
Advantage is we playing ultra attack football with balance of the double pivot and leao must work more defensively.