Hernan Crespo believes that Romelu Lukaku is currently a better fit for AC Milan than Joshua Zirkzee as both forwards continue to be linked with a move.
The Argentine knows what it means to succeed at the biggest clubs and on the biggest stages having scored over 300 goals in a career spanning 19 years, as well as netting 35 goals for his country making them their fourth-highest goalscorer behind only Sergio Agüero, Gabriel Batistuta and Lionel Messi.
Crespo was signed by Carlo Ancelotti ahead of the 2004-05 after being deemed surplus to requirements at Chelsea and he scored a total of ten league goals that season, and scored twice in the 2005 UEFA Champions League final loss to Liverpool in Istanbul.
Crespo – who now coaches Al-Ain in the United Arab Emirates – spoke to La Gazzetta dello Sport about Milan’s pursuit of a new centre-forward and he made his pick.
Is the young Zirkzee or the experienced Lukaku better?
“The discussion is not simple, because from what I understand the economic question is not secondary. I can speak for what concerns the technical aspect and for their possible insertion into the mechanisms of the team. Always remembering that Zirkzee is 23 years old while Lukaku is 31, and that is not a small difference.”
So would you choose Zirkzee?
“I didn’t say that, but the age issue also has its importance. Zirkzee is a player who guarantees a future, Lukaku seems to me to be a more immediate solution. In short: the Dutchman has considerable room for growth, while we have known Lukaku’s qualities for several years.
“It’s easy to say: I need a centre-forward. But then you have to see what type of centre-forward, they are not all the same. I was not similar to Batistuta, just as a personal example. And in fact we could coexist and we played together in the national team.”
What kind of centre forward is Zirkzee?
“Very technical and very Dutch in his interpretation of the role.”
What do you mean by ‘Dutch’?
“He likes to play with the team, drop in and link-up with his team-mates. He’s also good at providing assists. I see him as a manoeuvring centre-forward, who has a good physique to defend the ball and good technique to participate in the collective action.”
Lukaku, on the other hand, is a more ‘ancient’ striker…
“Yes, if the term ‘ancient’ is not used in a negative sense. The Belgian relies above all on his physique, what was once called a breakthrough centre-forward. He is deadly on the counter-attack, dictates the deep pass very well and, in this way, gets the whole team moving.”
In the new Milan, would you prefer Zirkzee or Lukaku?
“Milan need to score early, to score. The San Siro crowd doesn’t have time to wait, and this is an important aspect. Zirkzee had an excellent season with Bologna, scoring 11 goals.
“Lukaku wasn’t brilliant last season, but if he has the right motivation and if he’s well prepared from a physical point of view he can be a guarantee. Zirkzee is young, how could he handle the impact with San Siro?
“Believe me, I’m telling you this as someone who has experienced that emotion first hand: playing in that stadium is not like playing elsewhere. Zirkzee has been very good so far, but in Bologna. And Bologna is not Milan. Lukaku is more used to big stages, he has consolidated international experience.”
Given how you know Fonseca’s game, would Zirkzee or Lukaku be a better fit?
“I don’t know how Fonseca intends to develop the build-up, but I know that Lukaku is a one-man team. Zirkzee needs to communicate with his team-mates, so his insertion could take longer. And then, since the centre-forward doesn’t play alone, you always have to see who you put next to him.
“If the wingers are Leao and Pulisic, then Lukaku is perfect for swooping into the area on their crosses. Zirkzee prefers to maneuver more, communicates with the mezzali, goes forward with tight triangles because he has great technique. From what the teams coached by Fonseca have always shown, perhaps Lukaku is more suitable.”
With the Belgian the game would be more vertical…
“There’s no doubt about it. He attacks the depth: if he’s in form, with two passes he gets to the goal because he’s a unit that drags the defenders behind him.”
With Zirkzee, on the other hand, we would see a Milan more inclined to ball control…
“Exactly. I would say a Milan devoted to tiki-taka, to domating in the middle of the field. However, it seems to me that European football is moving towards a greater verticalisation of the build-up, as taught by Real Madrid of my master Ancelotti”.
In conclusion, Zirkzee or Lukaku?
“For today’s Milan, perhaps Lukaku is more suitable.”
Good at counter-attack? Have dear mr. Crespo sene him this year?
Yes, Anaximander. Respond has it right. He’s good at counter-attack. Even though he wasn’t in good form this year, he has still managed to score 21 goals. That’s what Milan need for now. No time to wait for a one-season talent that may not be able to fit in right away into a big club with very demanding fans
He WAS a good counterattacking player. Not so this year.
Good at counter-attack? Have dear mr. Crespo seen him this year?
Lukaku, unlike Zirkzee, is a distinct striker who would certainly know how to take advantage of our penetrations and crosses from the wings. In his prime, he was almost unstoppable. I’m not one of those who would say after 31 years that they are veterans, but, of course, the question of motivation is crucial here! He changed a lot of clubs and the question is whether he would be able to give his best in a new beginning. Especially since a lot would be expected from him, and the issue of financing the entire transfer and salary is not insignificant either. Too risky in my opinion.
Agree with Wasp on that. He may be unstable for a little while due to his attitude, but he’s a proven and prolific striker who can do a lot good for a team like Milan that lacks scoring among other problems.
We need strickers like Lukaku who can score even when we’re not playing good. Zirkee seems to be a good talent but we’ve only seen in him playing one good season for Bologna. I’ll go with Lukaku all day long. I Don’t care he played for Inter or he is not an easy person. Ibrahimovic wasn’t easy also and had a lot of ego. But he did his job well when he was called upon
C’mon mate, Lukaku has max 1-2 years until he becomes so slow that you can outrun him by casually walking on the pitch, his motivation is questionable and he misses more chances than Giroud and Darwin combined. Costs close to 40 mln with no future resale value and has over 7mln in wages. In what aspect does this transfer look any good is beyond me.
How fast were Giroud and Ibrahomovic when they joined? All we need is 3-4 year bridge to Camarda.
Verticality and counter-attacking are precisely our style. We’re not going to suddenly become a tiki-taka side because of Fonseca. We need a big dude to hold the ball up, own the box and finish crosses. This is Lukaku. Lukaku has score 20+ goals per season in Serie A twice already. Zirkzee will leave Serie A before he ever does. Lukaku for 30M on a 3 year contract at 6M per year until Camarda is fully up and running.
I’ll puke in my mouth if I see that fat ugle Merda striker in our colours. Big No
Lukaku ain’t the player he used to be… Saliba made him look like a newbie in Euro, and it’s clear that if he’s being marked tightly, he does not make any effort to b mobile to shrug off that defender on his back.. he just like to sit with the last defender and wait for passes to run after the ball … He lack techniques and tactical awareness!!
Zirkzee is better cause, he can link up better with other players , and would be a better fit