AC Milan are set to look a bit different when they take on Verona in Serie A this afternoon for a number of reasons, with Stefano Pioli opting to tinker.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport (as seen below), the Rossoneri are set to line up in a new 3-4-3 formation which looks like it could be very flexible and look like something different when the game begins.
This would see a back three of Fikayo Tomori, Simon Kjaer and Malick Thiaw, with Alessandro Florenzi and Yunus Musah playing as wingers on either side of two central midfielders.
The front three of Rafael Leao, Olivier Giroud and Christian Pulisic will remain, whilst Marco Sportiello is set to start in place of the injured Mike Maignan.
This means Theo Hernandez, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Davide Calabria are dropping to the bench from the usual starting eleven.
Probable Milan XI (3-4-3): Sportiello; Thiaw, Kjaer, Tomori; Musah, Krunic, Reijnders, Florenzi, Pulisic, Giroud, Leao.
I always think Leao should play like George Weah or Thierry Henry : A Advanced Forward, the most advanced player in the team with primary job to receive through ball and the most dangerous player in final third. Like Mbappe did too.
Because Leao’s best trait are his Physical attributes and his flair. And a World-class player should placed at center. So why dont we change to 4-3-1-2 ?
– 4 Defenders : Calabria, Thiaw, Tomori, Theo. (Not much changed)
– 3 Midfielders : Loftus-Cheeks, Bennacer (or Krunic), Reijnders. (Not much changed)
– 1 AMC : Pulisic (A shadow striker like he did with USA National team)
– 2 Strikers : Giroud, Leao.
Giroud can still be the target-man for flick-on in build-up plays. With Pulisic run from deep center, and Leao always ready to receive the through ball with his speed.
I don’t think Leao looks good as Trequartista this season.
Leao needs to exploit his physical-attributes, play fast & effective, not taking his time with ball for a longer time.
Why not 4-1-3-2