Not only are AC Milan forced to play catchup from a financial standpoint against the richest clubs in Europe, but they are also obliged to replicate ‘modern football’ that involves maintaining possession and implementing a high press.
Thankfully, attempting to administer a certain style of play does not require monetary funds. While many may argue that Pep Guardiola’s philosophy is turning professional footballers into robots and has stripped away the flair element of the beautiful game – it has helped Italian football escape from its shell and embrace an attacking and entertaining model on the pitch.
For the first time in years, former manager Stefano Pioli created a visible identity that started with a solid foundation playing out from defence. During their incredible 27-match unbeaten run in the league after the Covid lockdown, at times, the fluid movement both on and off the ball was a joy to behold.
Yet, unfortunately, one of Milan’s biggest downfalls during the Pioli era was the inability to play out from the back against high-quality opposition in the big games. Constantly they were under siege and suffocated with no answers, especially in the Champions League.
Is Paulo Fonseca the man to change that? Despite three victories on the road in the States against Man City, Real Madrid, and Barcelona – even the most optimistic Rossoneri diehard can surely agree that results mean close to nothing for pre-season friendlies.
What matters, however, is embedding youth, how the team performs, and how well they can execute Fonseca’s game style despite minimal time on the training field.
A video on YouTube of Fonseca discussing tactics with his whiteboard while the manager of Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk has since gone viral from a Milan perspective – highlighting how he wants his teams to set up from the back:
“Build-up is very important for me,” he said. “We give a lot of freedom to the right-back and the left-back. We start to build up with the three (in defence) because normally (the opposition) will press with the striker and the number 10.”
In all three encounters, there were clear signs of positive passages transitioning with the ball starting with the back four and moving their way up the pitch to implement impressive patterns under the 4-2-3-1 system.
It all starts with the goalkeeper, in this case, Lorenzo Torriani, keeping a cool head at 19 years of age to dispose of the ball and create angles. Interestingly, Alexis Saelemaekers reverted to an unnatural right-back role against Barcelona but was one of the key pieces in unlocking the Catalan front third and midfield block with his ability to manoeuvre out of tight spaces.
Centre-back duo Fikayo Tomori and Malik Thiaw seem more than comfortable on the ball under Fonseca’s new structure. If they crumble under pressure, then so too does the Portuguese’s tactical system.
Although inexperienced left-back Filippo Terracciano admittedly failed to prove himself in the past two weeks, Theo Hernandez will always offer a potent threat to successfully play his way out of danger in possession – albeit the Frenchman is prone to make a mistake on the ball.
All is well and good if it functions according to plan, but does Fonseca have a plan B up his sleeve?
During his tenure at Roma, the 51-year-old was heavily criticised for lacking adaptability when his side was under enormous stress while playing out from their own 18-yard box.
In the first two friendlies, a common trend was evolving with a 3-2 build-up, relying on a consistent back three with two players pushing forward at all times to create overloads and turn defence into attack with penetration and conviction. Against Barcelona, Saelemaekers’ role was slightly different
In that same game, Barca’s high press may not have been overly intense, but it was conducted in clever fashion which exposed Milan’s limitations to play out of the press at times – hence the minimal goalscoring opportunities created throughout.
“What I always want to see from my players is courage, courage to develop our game. It’s not always easy because it is difficult for a player to develop his game. The thing that I want them to have is the courage to take the initiative, to play an offensive game and to always have the ball. That is what I want from my players and my team,” Fonseca said back in 2018 while coach of Shakhtar.
That particular insight is telling. This Milan side will look to dictate from the outset, recover the ball with ferocity, and most of all – dare to play through the opposition press at all costs.
Yes, it has all the makings of an almighty risk waiting to blow up in Fonseca’s face when push comes to shove. However, perhaps a fearless Milan is the right way forward for a club desperate to conquer the modern game.