It has been over five months since Mike Maignan last made an appearance for AC Milan and he will return tonight with a different team in front of him.
This morning’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport (via MilanNews) writes how Maignan is both accustomed to and is fundamental in the process of building out from the back which made the Rossoneri so successful in the Scudetto-winning season.
However, Maignan will find a different Milan compared to how he left it as Stefano Pioli switched to a three-man defence during his absence with a calf problem, but with the return of the Frenchman in goal the familiar build-up pattern could return.
This involves Pierre Kalulu spreading to the right, with Malick Thiaw and Fikayo Tomori set up either side of Maignan and Theo Hernandez pushing up the flank to give an option.
With Maignan between the posts the players will have more instructions, will be told where to go and will definitely rediscover a leader given the former Lille man knows how to make the right choices and how to dictate them.
With the ball at his feet, Maignan is as confident as an outfield player and he allows more freedom of manoeuvre, also helped by his tactical intelligence.
