Ruben Amorim has been working with the AC Milan squad for less than two months, but he has already shown some interesting experimentation.
La Gazzetta dello Sport begin a report by pointing out that Amorim has firm ideas that he wants to put into practice with his 3-4-2-1. Philosophically it is an almost complete change from the Massimiliano Allegri era, and he has some ‘wild cards’ to help his cause.
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Samuel Chukwueze
When it began to become clear that Chukwueze would be considered an asset by the Portuguese coach, everyone pointed to the attacking midfielder spot. Yet, Amorim sought creativity out wide, and the wing-back experiment began.
The question was whether he would be able to guarantee hard work in both the attacking and defensive phases. So far he has offered enough positive signs, and he registered an assist in the season opener versus Torino. Any doubts were erased in a few weeks, for now at least.
Diego Moreira
After the Torino match, Amorim said something unexpected: “Moreira can play as a full-back on both the right and left flank, perhaps he’ll play more on the right. At a big club, it’s important to have two excellent players in each position.”
The former Strasbourg player was widely expected to be the main protagonist on the left flank, rather than the other. The coach, however, emphasised a preference for the opposite side of the pitch. Was it a red herring, or will he really battle the Nigerian for one spot?
Yunus Musah
Initially, almost everyone expected Musah to leave. He was quickly placed on the available list, especially since there are no mezzala positions in Amorim’s formation. Then Yunus’s prospects began to change, until the manager told the club he wanted to keep him.
Being a player with pace and verticality, the main focus was on a right wing-back position. Instead, the coach placed him in the heart of the pitch, a position he doesn’t mind at all and where he performed well in Turin. Sure, he won’t be a regular starter in that position, but he’ll be a good alternative.
Adrien Rabiot
The idea began to surface in the coach’s head a few weeks ago. Last season, Adrien was one of the best midfielders in the squad, but given the current needs, he could find his position as an attacking midfielder.
Sure, he’s a different kind of playmaker than the ones Amorim is used to, perhaps slower in execution and in half-space, but he’s plenty experienced enough to bring adequate vision and innovative attacking options. The half-hour against Torino is the clearest proof of this: an assist, a goal and a big impact. A good way to silence the noise.
Alexis Saelemaeers
Conceptually, the same applies as for Chukwueze: we expected Saelemaekers to be a pillar on the right side, but instead we find him in the attacking midfield. Even in his case, it won’t be a set-in-stone role. The Belgian is a versatile player, who can play various roles.
Alexis could play as a left wing-back, inverted, but the attacking midfield spots have opened up as the main option. The situation is evolving: the former Anderlecht can play more or less anywhere, but the feeling is that as a midfielder he’ll lose some of his unique qualities.
Bartesaghi…?
Focused only on midfielders
“Sure, he won’t be a regular starter in that position, but he’ll be a good alternative.”
He will be a starter.
“kind of playmaker than the ones Amorim is used to, perhaps slower in execution and in half-space” — When are we going to learn that speed isnt everything. Too much play station made everyone obsessed with speed. If speed was the most important trait, then Tomori would be world class, Bergkamp, Zidane, Nesta, Stam wouldve been terrible.
All the other leagues continue to get more faster and athletic whereas Serie A has only started to try to speed us. You mention Tomori but there’s many slow defenders much worse than him. And yes, the great players you mention wouldn’t be nowhere near as effective today with there slower pace.
Nesta and Stam were fast man, Zidane wasn’t too slow either his haters just accused him of slowing down the tempo with his roulettes
This is completely wrong. No need to explain. Zidane slow. Ok.