AC Milan head coach Stefano Pioli must look for alternative solutions because Brahim Diaz is continuing to struggle, a report claims.
La Gazzetta dello Sport reports how out of all the issues Milan are currently battling, the crisis in the attacking midfielder role stands out above all. Brahim has failed to recover his best form, while Franck Kessie will have to play in the double pivot and Junior Messias is seen as a winger.
Milan are struggling to find consistency and end product no matter who they play in the No.10 role, and in recent months the gap behind the striker has been particularly evident with Brahim never hitting the same heights he did early in the season since Covid.
In recent weeks Pioli had assured and reassured that the Spaniard’s condition had improved and that a turning point could well be imminent, but after a good appearance off the bench against Inter and a positive display in the 4-0 cup win over Inter, he became lost again.
After scoring four goals in the first nine games of the season, Brahim is yet to score since his winner against Spezia in September. Pioli is reflecting and is trying to figure out the best man possible to place behind Giroud in the derby, and he is also considering the problems Inter will pose.
Simone Inzaghi’s side rely a lot on Marcelo Brozovic at the base of the midfield but this time Kessie will not be able to play further up to neutralise him because Sandro Tonali’s suspension means he is guaranteed of a start in the double pivot.
Messias has already played in a central role while Daniel Maldini is not ready for such a big game, which is why Rade Krunic should get the nod against Inter. He has played as a winger, a defensive midfielder and as a No.10 for the Rossoneri already, and he might be the most logical option.
Pioli is thinking about it, so much so that he tried the Bosnian in that role in the penultimate training session at Milanello. He would have the task of breathing down Brozovic’s neck and to try tip the scale in Milan’s favour, with Brahim ready to come off the bench.
Why not Pioli try Messias in the AMF role? Must it be Brahim Diaz or Rade krunic ? Messias has all the traites to play in that role….
Wow.
I didn’t get to see this before I typed mine.
Pioli is too stereotype on his decision making.
Messias or Salesmaker might just do well from the middle.
In as much that I don’t like Salesmaker, he has a spark in him that is yet to be unleashed, and I think that can be achieved if given a big role to play.
He loves to dribble and also love to shoot from the outside, which I believe will be a good tweak to his game style
Pioli should play a 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1 formation instead.
Mike
Calabria Tomori Roma Theo
Salesmaker Kessie Benecer Leao
Messias Giroud
Who else if not utility player Krunic. Can’t this Poili have a formation change ? I’m sick of this round and round kinda game. I just hope inter doesn’t demolish us
Good teams/coaches adapt their tactics based on the players they got. Milan makes the players adapt to strange roles just to stick with the one and only tactic. Insane. And amateurish.
I think we better go with two vertically positioned AMFs and no forwards. No point to have a CF if you lose the ball without delivering it to the target.
Probably Brahim/Krunic/Messias with Rebic a bit closer to the goal.
just change to 4-3-3 or 4-3-2-1, we are not generating anything thru the center, just might as well drop that idea and focus more on a solid 3 midfield
4-3-3: Calabria, Romagnoli, Tomori, Theo, kessie, Banecer, Krunic, Leao, Giroud, Massias. If Krunic were assigned to shadowing brozovic and operating as a free midfielder in possession that would make use of his tactical intelligence while not requiring him to be as technical as the advanced playmaker needs to be.