AC Milan played the first of their two pre-season games in Asia yesterday, and there was a lot to like about the game.
Of course, it is a pre-season game, so we must be careful with how we view things. However, there are small things that matter, and these can prove pivotal in the season. Milan, for most of the game, looked pretty solid and had a bit to them, at least identity wise.
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Again, there needs to be caution with getting carried away. Nevertheless, the stylstic points were there to be seen, and a few hints about the team were displayed, as Tuttosport (via MilanNews) writes.
Immediate effect
In a few weeks, Massimiliano Allegri is not going to radicalise the team. It is not possible and it is not wise. Instead, it is about reinforcing the strengths of the team and providing a base to work from. With the Arsenal game, we saw this.
A team with basic Allegrian principles, to be solid defensively and then strong in possession. All whilst missing key players and transfer movements. What is vital to remember here, is that Luka Modric, Pervis Estupinan, Mike Maignan, a goalkeeper and another right-back were missing.
Arsenal, too, were missing certain things. But, the basics were there from the Diavolo and they were impressive, even if just basic. After all, the talk is that it is already an ‘Allegri Milan’.
Create a shell in the defensive half then launch a Hail Mary long-ball
Come with me
What do we have here now!
Lalala man
As long we talk about Estupnian and still keeps Emerson i just take my trust with him, I not reaally think he is worse, this is real, just another team didn’t playing in fcompparisson of game byf Emerson
Team: what’s the strategy?
Allegri: Park it!
The identity I guess is 10 men behind the ball. Should be an exciting watch.
Can’t be worse than Conceicao can it?
There is something to build on I would say. They looked a bit more compact amd not so disorganized as opposed to being split open the whole of last season. I did not like the fact that too few would be in the final 3rd to create any meaningful attack when in possession. Hope its not part of the defensive strategy from the coach.
Maybe he knows how good Milan are offensivly already and wanted to fix the defensive first and used this game to see what needs improvement.
We are watching de Allegri identity team .
Allegri terrorism ball 😂
All good teams build from the back. Rather play defensivly than to be embarassed on attacks by Parma or Bologna.
For the first time in a long time, I saw a team move as one across the field in defensive phase. That’s the only thing evident from this first training match against Arsenal but it’s what we’ve been missing.
Yeah, and have the other team take 25 shots to 3.
Who needs a sleeping pill when you have ACM. I was fearful when he was hired that ACM would look like Juve. There’s a reason the Juve fans were glad to see him go.
We had no strikers, no full-backs, and are at least one starting midfielder short. A lot of players from yesterday are not part of the team’s plans. This won’t even be the formation we use during the season. What identity did we see?
These friendlies will be meaningless in terms of developing a system of play. They are only for players to get in shape and for youngsters to impress and improve.
We have no idea what to expect until the transfer market closes and after the first few games of the season.
I hope that’s true.
Wdym you hope. What happened last preseason with Fonseca. We won every match and we know the rest…
Lose all of these of needed but learn and improve
I know what i’m gonna do now when i have a sleep problem.
Y’all gonna learn 🍿🍿🍿
Milan have never played tiki taka, we have always defend and be quick on counter attacks with long balls from Pirlo… Kaka and Sheva would be waiting for these long balls to attack and Seedorf and others , will overload quickly to create space for our attack or receive the ball … Thats the way we should play, not possession football, but tactical football instead … Everyone defending every space in our defence!!! Thats the way Italian plays, so dont be shocked if Allegri play’s ” ITALIAN” football.. he is keeping his culture and the way Italians knows how to win .. Italy won the 2006 WC , playing this way, and so does Milan’s Ancelotti and when Milan beat Barca 4-0 in the final…