AC Milan were back in training at Milanello this afternoon, and Sergio Conceicao reportedly tried a new tactical approach.
According to Sky (via MilanNews), Santiago Gimenez trained separately again today after the blow to the side he suffered in the last match against Fiorentina. At most, the Mexican will be on the bench against Udinese on Friday night.
Rather than picking between Luka Jovic and Tammy Abraham for the starting striker spot, Conceicao has a temptation: to have them play together from the first minute. It is a test that was carried out by the Portuguese coach at Milanello today.
The Serbian has never hidden the fact that he feels better with another striker at his side, therefore in a formation with two up front, and Milan have at times used a 4-4-2 and a 4-4-1-1 system, like in the derby win over Inter last September.
It has also been used during the game when there was a need to recover from a deficit. And in five out of eight occasions it has also worked, such as in the two Supercoppa Italiana matches against Juventus and Inter, and then against Como, Parma and Fiorentina.
The defence has also conceded fewer goals when there were two strikers on the pitch, as Milan paradoxically have a better goal difference than when they play with just one striker.
Smart move. Who are the 4 behind them?
Who do you think? Leao-Reijnders-Fofana-Pulisic. Of course, the minute ConceiCiao loses Walker, being forced to play either Jimenez or Musah out of position at RB, he chooses to go with a less numerical midfield🤦🤦🤦
Hasnt he been trying this everygame after the first 15mins when its 0-2 and he makes panic subs. I think milan should of Just leaned towards being a Counter attacking team, more than a possesion based team. Just give the other team the ball
Why are we always stuck with the worst managers? Ffs.
With set of players at disposal and having Leao and Puli on the wings, this can never be a 442. More like 424. Or even 415. Because Reijnders.
This is 442:
Florenzi Thiaw Gabbia Bartesaghi
Jimenez Fofana Reijnders Theo
Abraham Jovic
I’d be intrigued to see this and it worked well that one time it was tried with Abraham and Morata from the start… but boy is there a bigger indictment of the decision to buy Gimenez than the sudden remembering that we have Jovic?
A simple 352 would work. Theo and Jimenez as wing backs, usual bondo, fofana n reijnders midfield, novice n Abraham/gimenez attack. Something so simple to have tried out from the beginning. Leao is this teams liability for off his ball participation to help the team. Leave him on the bench. We lack dynamic midfielders, we lack a lobokta in this team