Sergio Conceicao has used a three-man defence for the last two games and with mixed results, as a 4-0 win over Udinese was followed up by a 1-0 defeat to Atalanta.
As this morning’s edition of Corriere della Sera (via MilanPress) writes, the first experiment brought good results, the second less so. The third? We will find out tomorrow night, as Conceicao should keep the same system against Inter.
The second leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final versus Inter is pretty much what Milan’s season rests upon, given how difficult it will now be to secure a European place through finishing in the top six in Serie A.
The paper states that the coach seems inclined to keep using three central defenders against the Nerazzurri, with the aim of providing more coverage and solidity at the back, while keeping the wing-backs and wingers free to push up.
It should be remembered that in the four derbies so far this season – which Milan have emerged from undefeated – the Rossoneri have always played with a four-man defence.
Even in those games, though, Alex Jimenez or Yunus Musah were used almost as a wing-back on the right, so at times the shape became a five at the back anyway.
The dilemmas approaching both the Atalanta and the Inter clashes were that both sides have been playing a 3-4-2-1/3-5-2 for a long and are therefore far more experienced with it. Thus, matching up the system could be seen as a gamble by Conceicao.
We just started our 3 at the back journey. Inter is a well oiled 3 atb machine already. Wonder how that’s going to play out Hmm 🤔
I’d stick to what we know worked against inter last four games. Not sure why you’d want to start improvising against a tired Inter. Stick to what worked well last time.