La Gazzetta dello Sport have been strongly pushing the idea that Julen Lopetegui will arrive as the new head coach of AC Milan, and they believe that two forwards would benefit from his hiring.
The paper (seen below) cites the examples of Casemiro, who Lopetegui had on loan at Porto and returned to Real Madrid ready to become a pillar of the team, as well as Isco, Diego Carlos and Ever Banega at Sevilla.
The list of players that the Basque coach has developed and revitalised is long and can grow even further if he lands at Milan. Both improvement of players in the current squad and additions from the mercato will be needed to close the gap with Inter.
The former Spain coach and the Rossoneri management are already tuned in to the same starting idea: the current squad is of an excellent level, with the right interventions it could become a title winner.
In the meantime, Lopetegui is studying and he seems to be of the belief that there is at least one name in each department that can help take off.
Samu Chukwueze, for example, looks to the future with confidence. His first season as a Milan player traveled at two speeds: slowly, very slowly from summer to spring, then accelerated. It wasn’t enough to change Pioli’s mind: despite him being one of the fittest players, Chukwu almost always starts from the bench.
Things could change from July: because Lopetegui is very familiar with what Chukwueze did at Villarreal. Not only that: the former Real coach’s teams push mainly towards the flanks, so wingers à la Chukwueze will be fundamental players.
Noah Okafor is another name that will be worth keeping an eye on. Under Lopetegui he will be able to relaunch himself as a central striker, as an alternative to the new centre-forward.
In the past, the Spaniard has brought out the best even from false nines and the Swiss offers him material to reshape. His performance as a substitute is already that of a striker (five of his six goals this season came off the bench).
Pierre Kalulu will also be evaluated as a full-back, a role in which he started for the Rossoneri before moving to the centre. Tijjani Reijnders, fresh from a decent season in his first year at Milan, will be able to return to being a mezzala in a 4-3-3 too.
So, basically, Pioli, in back to back years, used new players in the wrong positions.
First, CDK, and then this year literally every midfielder that was signed.
Musah played everywhere except as a mezzala.
RLC played closer to the opposing goalkeeper than Giroud.
Reijnders was also almost never used as a mezzala.
I like the idea of moving Kalulu back to his natural RB position.
Bring in Zirkzee, a midfielder and a CB as starters.
Also a back up for Theo and Locca to provide different striker profile. Shouldn’t cost much since Udinese is about to be relegated.
Also , the forwards that were signed last summer, Jovic, Okafor and Chukwueze combined played as many minutes as Giroud.
Jovic + Okafor + Chukwueze = 3275 minutes.
Giroud = 3108 minutes.
Yep, Lucca is a deep cut. Would be interesting as a backup, and even as the starter if we can’t get any of our main targets. I’d also consider Walace at ~10M in case we don’t get a bigger name at DM. In fact, if we’re truly playing 4-3-3 with a real DM flanked by mezzale, I’d still et Walace even if we did get a bigger name as we’ll need depth.
Yes! The 3 mezzalas, RLC (yes, he said before his preferred role is a B2B in a 433), Reijnders and Musah, are brought in to give Pioli the players for his 433 at the beginning on the season. That’s also why he told Adli straight he can leave (and allows CDK to be loaned) cos there is no AM position for him to play in this formation. Problem is, Pioli reverted back to 4321 as soon as he started 433.
https://sempremilan.com/sky-pioli-seriously-thinking-formation-change-loftus-cheek
Lopetegui, Ibrahimovic, Chukwueze would not get along well. Just bring in the Spanish coach and see if that will be true. It is totally ok to waste another year. Come on bring him in.