Tomorrow evening, Sergio Conceicao will name his first starting line-up as the head coach of AC Milan, and some clues have arrived regarding who will be in it.
According to this morning’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below), the main headline is that Conceicao should use a 4-3-3 system, rather than the 4-4-2 that he had sometimes preferred at Porto.
The front three is expected to be made up of Christian Pulisic on the right wing, Alex Jimenez on the left wing with Alvaro Morata the centre-forward. Ismael Bennacer should start his first game since August, with Youssouf Fofana and Tijjani Reijnders also in the midfield.
Mike Maignan will keep his place in goal, with a back four of Emerson Royal, Matteo Gabbia, Malick Thiaw and Theo Hernandez ahead of him. It means the Portuguese is likely to stick with the centre-back pairing his compatriot and predecessor Paulo Fonseca preferred.
It must also be noted that there are still two more training sessions scheduled, including one on the morning of the game, so there is certainly the possibility that there could be further changes yet.
Predicted Milan XI (4-3-3): Maignan; Emerson Royal, Gabbia, Thiaw, Theo; Bennacer, Fofana, Reijnders; Pulisic, Morata, Jimenez.
i think a 4-3-3 makes sense in this transition period. It’s the hustle, grinta and determination of players that will make the difference.
PLEASE RE-INSTATE THE CAPTAIN.
He’s not very good though. Put Tomori as the RB
Close the book bro. That’s two coaches in succession that don’t rate him. Plus, he’s 5 months left on a contract that’s not being renewed. Better to continue playing Emerson in the hopes that he improves until either Jimenez is played there or someone else arrives in the summer.
Looks decent
The difference between conceicao and Fonseca is just tactical understanding conceicao knows it better than Fonseca so our 4-3-3 is moving into the 4-2-3-1 incase you didn’t know so we can successfully destroy Juventus.
If they somehow still keep 4231 i swear i will throw the TV from my room for ever
Yes, but I’ll bet that Reijnders’ production drops off a cliff now. He’s what’s been keeping us going in the weeks where we’ve had both Leao and Puli out. Our defense has actually been fine for the last couple of months. We need more offense. Playing Reijnders deeper in this moment might not be the best idea.
His stats may dip a little as hopefully the attackers get more involved but he’ll occupy the playmaker role in the midfield, I bet Fofana and Bennacer will do more box to box work.
I think Reijnders will have even more freedom playing in 433. In 4231 he had more defensive tasks playing as one of the pivots. Here he’s having additional cover now from both Fofana and Bennacer so his task will be to drift inside and support our front three in offensive actions.
I think its not the formation that matters but how he made them play in attacking and defending position.
Tiji and will have a free role and rotate forward just like seedorf.
Benny will be in position to receive every pass from buildup play move around and distribute the ball like Pirlo.
While Fofana will remain as the holding midfield just like Dejong in his days doing the filtering.
My thought.
Pretty much the same lineup that Fonseca would have used. The formation is never the issue as long as you play with your best players, they play in the right positions, and they understand your system.
I don’t know why every journalist seems to think Emerson should be the starting RB, when he’s made it clear he is literally worst option for that position… I pray he uses Calabria or Jimenez, otherwise we’re gonna get abused on the right
If Leão could play, I think Conceição might have used Jimenez as RB but with Leão out and Okafor having been extremely bad lately, I think Conceição’s hands are tied and he must use Jimenez as LW, so he has to go with Emerson, which is a pity but there is no alternative as Calabria has been even worse. Anyway, if Emerson starts making his usual errors, maybe Conceição will sub Calabria in, but the sad truth is that neither is good enough. Oh how I miss Kalulu!
I completely agree on brining in Calabria again! Quicker, more physical at times, and ITALIAN!!
You think Calabria is quicker than Emerson. You must be kidding 🤣🤣🤣🤣
he is emerson is slow as a snail
Bennacer cannot start and his physical shape is not upto the mark at this time.
If he make a mistake or run slowly next minute everyone scream at him.
He should take atleast 4weeks to get full match fitness.he should come only from bench.
Yes, Calabria is a joke. And what even is Emerson Royal? What has Emerson done this season that makes you laugh so hard when people put Calabria’s name next to his? Best RB in Europe so far or what? They are both a joke but Emerson’s time has run out. He has had enough minutes to prove that he is useless.