AC Milan began their time in the United States with a 3-2 win against Manchester City, and there were some interesting takeaways for Paulo Fonseca to reflect on.
La Gazzetta dello Sport have picked out some of the positives and the negatives from the game, starting with Lorenzo Torriani who got another game in goal and certainly did not look out of place.
He is from Vimodrone and Cologno, in the province of Milan, and never played much in the youth teams. Last season he was the third goalkeeper in the Primavera, behind Raveyre and Bartoccioni. Fonseca gave him a chance and put him ahead of Nava and Raveyre.
Torriani played 90 minutes yesterday in New York against Pep Guardiola’s City and in the first half he thwarted Haaland with a save that was less beautiful than his dive last week in Vienna but still impressive.
Now, there is the possibility that he will become the third goalkeeper, behind Mike Maignan and Marco Sportiello. Fonseca certainly appreciates his ability on the ball, something he asks for in order to play out from the back.
Lorenzo Colombo was another big positive with his first half brace. Samu Chukwueze gave him two carbon copy crosses and he put them in the net, which is all that you can really ask for from a striker.
The piece states that it will be a farewell game for him, and that in the next 24 hours he will leave for Italy. Empoli are waiting for him and will sign him on loan with an option to buy.
Alexis Saelemaekers and Ruben Loftus-Cheek both played a good game, confirming their known qualities. The former once again created with his dribbling on both flanks, assisting the winger, and the idea of him staying rather than being sold for €15m is gaining momentum.
RLC on the other hand already looks like he is in peak condition. Fonseca had him attack in line with Colombo in what was a 4-2-4, and we will soon understand if he will continue to play so high up or if he will be moved back when Colombo leaves.
Onto the negative notes, Fikayo Tomori found it tough to deal with Oscar Bobb, who dribbled past him in the first goal, and also James McAtee who got the better of him for the 2-2 goal. Tomori must return to being a decisive player like in the Scudetto season, after two difficult years.
More is needed from the midfield too. Yesterday Florenzi and Bennacer played there, then Pobega, but that place on paper belongs to Reijnders and (if Monaco lower their demands) Fofana. Fonseca hopes to see both on August 7, when he gets off the plane.