Before the derby, it seemed that Paulo Fonseca was considering changing to a 4-4-2 formation. However, in his post-match press conference, he explained that he had set up his AC Milan in the same way as in previous games.
With Fonseca’s job on the line, reports suggested that he was not going to make any changes to his set-up unless his job was secure. However, when reports suggested he was moving to a 4-4-2, there were questions about how a change would go.
Starting Alvaro Morata and Tammy Abraham together offered the Rossoneri a different dynamic, one which they benefitted from significantly. They had two different outlets, both capable of doing the same jobs in different manners and Milan benefitted from this.
Although the system seemed slightly different, Fonseca revealed in his post-match press conference that nothing had been changed structurally, instead stating that Morata’s playstyle made things seem slightly different during the game.
On Morata’s position…
“Morata played the same role that Tijji had played in the other matches. They are different players because Morata gets forward more easily, but the role and the structure are the same. The closeness with Abraham was important, he did a great job, but the structure was the same.”
It was a GENIUS decision.
It possibly won us the game.
Morata finally gave us a midfielder who demands and fights for the ball.
Bennacer and RLC have done this on occasion.
Tonali, Krunic and Kessie used to do it.
We have not had it from any of our other midfielders.
And when he got the ball, he kept it simple, quick and direct.
Whilst there are so many good news stories particular for Gabbia and Emerson (after we conceded the goal) stepping up as well, Morata could be the most important discovery from this game.
Seeing Morata simply keep the ball, and then quickly distribute was what we have not seen. Elite levels need a higher pace, you don’t get another 0.05s to make a decision at this level. Morata is holding and distributing like Giroud who would have excellent first touch, and then quick movement out. Good to see.
Did he use Morata as a false 9? It was smart to bring an experienced player to that position.
Yes, Fonseca said that. He said in a post-match interview on CBS that Morata was playing as a “fake nine”.
That, and telling getting everybody to stay further back on defense. He said that in the interview also.
There was hardly any time Milan were in a high back line – slowly passing the ball around on offense – classic Pioli ball and the cause of so many losses and draws to lower ranked teams last season.
Milan more often than not was able to set up quickly on defense in a mid to low block and then very quickly counterattack with very direct moves.
Pulisic’s direct drive to goal came out of a mid block as Inter’s long throw in was intercepted, bounced around and then finally stripped from an Inter player by Pulisic who immediately drove straight for goal, which caught half the Inter team napping. There were something like six Inter players between him and the goal when he first got the ball and only one made any real effort to try to stop him.
It was this very quick, direct play that ultimately won the match for Inter. Although all the other fast counterattacks ended with missed or saved shots on goal, Gabbia’s score came off a free kick that was given when a Milan player (i don’t remember who) was driving very quickly towards the box and was taken down for a yellow card.
Inter got a lot of yellow cards in this match because of Milan’s direct play, which was why several of the better Inter players had to be subbed out.
I don’t know – the guy guarding Gabbia might have been a sub. The broadcasters pointed out that he was six inches shorter than Gabbia and that made all the difference
Oops, meant “won the match for Milan”
This so the joy and wonder of two striker formations…..so sadly gone out of fashion over the past 20 years
Watching the game he resembled a lot to Muller and his role and position with Bayern, mixture of AM and SS. It was a good rotational decision from Fonseca.
infinitely better than RLC. Credit to Morata for excelling in a new role