Sky: How Milan could line up with Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek and Reijnders

AC Milan have got some business done early with Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Christian Pulisic having signed and with Tijjani Reijnders potentially to follow.

Sky (as seen below) have hypothesised how Milan might look with Loftus-Cheek and Pulisic in the team and presuming that Reijnders does arrive, looking at both a 4-2-3-1 and a 4-3-3 formation.

In the first system they see the English midfielder slotting into a double pivot alongside the Dutchman, with Pulisic then playing as a No.10 behind the striker.

With a three-man midfield, Reijnders would be sat at the base as a deep-lying playmaker with Loftus-Cheek to his left and Rade Krunic to his right. Pulisic would be on the right wing, with Olivier Giroud and Rafael Leao completing the trident.

Milan 4-2-3-1: Maignan; Calabria, Thiaw, Tomori, Theo Hernandez; Loftus-Cheek, Reijnders; Saelemaekers, Pulisic, Leao; Giroud.

Milan 4-3-3: Maignan; Calabria, Thiaw, Tomori, Theo Hernandez; Loftus-Cheek, Reijnders, Krunic; Pulisic, Giroud, Leao.

Tags AC Milan Christian Pulisic Ruben Loftus-Cheek Tijjani Reijnders

72 Comments

  1. I thought they got Loftus Cheeck becouse he can contribute in defence and play in the back two pivot. But if they actually play 4-3-3 and play Loftus Cheek who cost 21mil in a more atacking position, while not signing Kamada for free who is 100! times better in that position, than this has been the stupidest signing in AC Milan history.

      1. Isn’t that what i exactly explained ? Read it again. If you decide to play a formation where you need more attacking mid but you instead sign a mid which is box to box and play him in a more atacking role while you had the option to sign a real atacking mid who is hundread times better in that position + for free, than yea its the stupidest transfer ever.

        1. In a 433 loftus cheek will play as a box to box midfielder.
          In a 4231 loftus cheek will play in the double pivot.
          What does any of that have to do with kamada who is an attacking midfielder, a position in which they signed Pulisic who can also play as a winger which kamada can not.
          Kamda cannot play as a box to box midfielder because he lacks physicality and lacks speed especially if his partners in the midfield are Reijnders and Bennacer(Krunic). That midfield will get destroyed on a regular basis even worse than the midfield that constituted of Bennacer and Tonali last season, which was Milan biggest weakness.

          1. You obviously haven’t seen Kamada play when you say he lack physicality. He is 1.84 tall… Also in 4-3-3 you don’t need mids who are physicly strong, (except the regista position which has more defensive duties). You mainly need mids who are creative and can pass/shoot from distance (like Inesta/Xavi), something in which Kamada is miles ahead of Loftus Cheek, who was prefered mainly becouse he can be more defensive than Kamada and play in 4-2-3-1 in a more defensive mid position. That’s why switching to 4-3-3 and still choosing 21mil RLC over free Kamada would be a huge blunder.
            PS. Kamada also pays in 4-3-3 in Japan in the exact same position in which you are saying that he can not play lol. So basicly you are just making things up from the back of your head without even checking anything about the player.

          2. First of all just because kamada is 1.84 doesn’t mean that he is physical. CDK is 192 is he physical?
            In a 433 you don’t need mids that are physical?
            Have you seen the midfield of man city, the UCL winners? Rodri and Stones are big, tall and physical, Gundogan not so tall but physical and technical.
            In today’s football, not the football of 10 years ago when Iniesta and Xavi played, midfielders gotta be physical. Football evolved and evolves every day.
            RLC is natural in 433 . Playing kamada in 433 will be like trying to squeeze a square peg thru a round whole. He is naturally an attacking midfielder who isn’t good in his defensive duties. And as a box to box midfielder in today’s football, not 10 years ago, you have to be able to perform defensive duties too.
            As the term box to box says, you operate from your own box to the opponents box, attack and defend. Kamda as naturally attacking midfielder spends most of his time in the opposing half.
            Also a RLC cost Milan 16 mil not 21 mil. The extra 5 mil are in bonuses if he achieves personal and team goals for the season, which if he does it will be a bargain deal.
            Make sure you are up to date of the way football is played today not 10-15 years ago, because nothing stays the same. The only constant thing is change and football has changed since Iniesta and Xavi played

          3. I agree with you. RLC is a box to box that suit to 433 R/LCM mezzala but not as regista. Kamada is an AMC not suit to 433. Rosi need to improve his knowledge of tactics.

        2. Kamadas default position is AM which is behind the lone striker in a 4231. RLCs default position is CM which is one of the two midfielders ahead of the CDM in a 433. Now being able to adapt to a different position is another topic. What I’m trying to clear out is that the two player’s respective best positions are in two different formations. So IMO signing RLC instead of Kamada can’t really be that complicated. The two have different profiles and 433 actually suits a CM than an AM.

          Ps. RLC is not ideal in a double pivot he’s not that defensive. And I actually like Kamada. Did like him if were going to line up with an AM.

          1. @Agus or whatever your name is no need to make more acaounts. Kamada dosen’t even play as a lone AM lol. He playes next to Gotze in Frankfurt and he literatlly plays in 4-3-3 in Japan in the same position you clowns are claming that he can not play. He even assisted twice in the last game for Japan in 4-3-3. Also Man City dose not play 4-3-3 they play 3-4-2-1. And neither Gundogan neither De Bruyne play in their positions because they are “physical” players lol. But there is no point explaning to someone who simpy talks from the back of his head without even checking where certain players play or can play.

          2. @Rossi
            Last Japan game that kamada played in, they won 4-1 vs Peru.
            Japan played in 442 and Kamada was one of the 2 forwards. Not in 433 as you claim.
            In Frankfurt they play 3421 kamada plays as 1 of the 2 players behind the striker, not in the midfield.
            At least get your facts straight

          3. “Japan – Peru Tue, Jun 20, 2023 – 11:55 AM hours, Japan Starting Line-up: 4-3-3 Attacking ” Now you are just straight out lying lol. Also Frankfurt plays the same formation as Man City and Kamada plays in the same position where Gundogan and De Bruyne play, you know the positions in which you claimed that Kamada can’t play. You went on a whole rant of bs how Kamada can’t play there and how that is outdated football from 15 years ago lol, to just confirm in the end that he actually plays there.

        3. Kamada is mediocre no one wants him his agent offers almost every team but no one accepted that will tell you he is nothing don’t be happy with what you saw on you tube rossi

    1. Sadly this is only about the non EU spot as signing Kamada would limit options of our new striker. Also, remember that every EPL raised player is still miles above home grown players in terms of physical abilities. Loftus-Cheek mainly was chosen by Maldini to bring Kessie’s level of physicality. Also, Pulisic will probably bring to the table more in terms of attacking options than Kamada would. Pioli is a limited coach, so this is 100% about the non EU spot and Loftus-Cheek already took one, so we only have 1 left.

    2. Tactics aren’t important. Familiarity is more important.

      When teams are playing at their peak players can and should be able to interchange and play across multiple roles.

      Stones played CB, RB and DM for Man City this season.

      The thing that told me that this Milan had something about them was when Calabria played in midfield against Juve a few years ago and we did ok.

      That is a sign that a team has got that tightness and familiarity that is crucial to success.

      The big question is whether we can replace Tonali. Not his ability (which was questionable especially last season) but what he represented.

      Whether or not this new set up works will largely depend on quickly these players can gel v what positions they play in. And that is why there’s a good chance that whatever money we made on Tonali is neither here nor there.

      1. “The thing that told me that this Milan had something about them was when Calabria played in midfield against Juve a few years ago and we did ok.

        That is a sign that a team has got that tightness and familiarity that is crucial to success.”

        Huh? All that meant was that the team was critically short of midfielders and they played Calabria out of position because he was the next best thing. He “did ok” because he is a defender and at the end of the day the essence of a midfielder in the double pivot is defense.

        “The big question is whether we can replace Tonali. Not his ability (which was questionable especially last season) but what he represented.”

        What does this even mean? What did he represent? Pobega came through the youth system, but I don’t see anyone crying about the fact that he isn’t starting or might get sold this summer. Probably because people don’t rate his ability. Same with Calabria in the latter sense. IMHO they “represent” Milan more than Tonali did. So there is no Tonali representation to replace. We need performances. AC Milan isn’t AC Milan without the victories, and victories don’t arrive because of players’ esteem for the club. And you said it yourself, his ability was questionable last season. And what happened? We barely qualified for the CL, achieved only thanks to another club’s stupidity. We need better players.

    3. Pulisic is Kamada’s replacement.

      Maldini had an agreement in place for Kamada and was still after RLC, so our intention was to get them both and are not considered substitute for each other, rather to complement each other.

      Now, new management followed through for RLC but substituted Kamada for Pulisic, isn’t that easy to understand?

      Stop the comparison between RLC and Kamada already.

    1. Kamada Kamada Kamada, Hauge Hauge Hauge, Tonali Tonali Tonali, Sanches Sanches Sanches. Time to flip the record over people.

  2. With the players we currently have 433 is the better option because besides Krunic we do not have a defensive midfielder in the squad to play double pivot

    1. That’s what i m saying if they decided to play 4-3-3, Kamada was the smarter choice instead of Loftus Cheek. Pobega and Adli are also more suited for 4-3-3.

          1. Inesta was a mid with attacking abilities (Sometimes even a winger). Same as Kamada. Central mid in 4-3-3 and central mid in 4-2-3-1 is not the same role. In the first one you need a mid with more attacking ability, and in the second one with more defensive ability. Don’t tell me that Kessie and Inesta are the same type of player.

          2. It literally says on Kamada profile that he play as CM as well. And he asisted twice the last time he played in 4-3-3 for Japan in the exact same position that Inesta played. But whatever, if you say that Kamada is bound for life to only play one position in only one formation than it must be true.

    1. Apparently KAMADA can play RW. He can play anywhere. Goalkeeper even. New position: box to box attacking defensive half goalkeeper. Kamada can play it.

      1. That’s exactly how I feel reading this comment section, just a bunch of people seeking validation for their ridiculous opinions, Kamada is the best central defensive wing back in the world lol 😂

        1. Yes becouse all the info which is avaliable with two cliks on google which shows you where Kamada can play and where he has played is just “opinions” seeking for validations, but the claims of Cardinale boot likers are by default the ultimate truth that can’t be questioned. We get it, who ever Red Bird buys is the ultimate player and there is no one better than him.

  3. Don’t forget for Sufyan amrabat because of understand for the seria’a and important winger Samuel chukwuze

  4. Reijnders seems to like the left side and RLC usually tends towards the right side so them on their sides plus Krunic/Dominguez/… CDM seems to be the best way to line the middle 3 of a 4-3-3 up.

  5. For all those wishing for some new Milan news while no articles are releasing: Milan has a new hypothesis for the attack on Chukwueze. Dia the striker with a 25M release clause until 20th of July has a percentage resale clause of which the earnings from the transfer going back to villarreal would be 5M so the hypothesis remains that Milan could go for a double swoop of both Chukwueze and Dia to lower the overall price tag of the Nigerian international, with the total cost of the double operation leading to be around the 50M mark

  6. And CdK is nowhere to be found. As I said several times already, after we got Pulisic, it’s better to sell CdK now rather than sitting him on the bench and further decreasing his value.

    1. Pulisic is not guaranteed to play all season or 10 matches in a row so cdk still have some glamour of hope even if he start from the bench if we still have Brahim Diaz it would have been a different thing.

      1. It supports my opinion even further. Why would we bench our most expensive player (in this ‘new’ Milan era after the Chinese fiasco)? Our most expensive player should be the one who plays day in day out. Making all sort of differences in the game he plays. Not coming off from the bench or looking for other’s absence. If that’s not the case, something def gone wrong. Whether it’s the player, the club, etc.

    2. CdK is not AM, look at his stats at transfermarkt:

      Position – Appearance – Goal – Assist

      CF – 49 – 16 – 12
      AM – 44 – 1 – 4

      1. Considering almost 90% of his games being played as AM in Milan, it’s simply because the coach didn’t think he’s suitable enough for the CF role. He might be a suitable CF in Jupiter league, but not here.

        And let me copy what I wrote several days ago regarding CdK and his role.

        “Physical tools he might have, but the one thing lacking, and maybe the most important one if we’re talking about a striker, is the killer instinct. Not only because he missed many chances last season, but I just don’t see it in him. That hunger and instinct.

        What he can really exploit is his vision. I once said in this forum, that an example of what he can aspire to become is a player like Guti. And don’t get me wrong, prime Guti was phenomenal back then. Somehow how CdK play reminds me of him. Guti was also utilized in many different positions. So maybe, if we really want to try, don’t give him another advanced role / position.”

        1. The killer instict was blocked by mental thing, just look at his goals at Brugge, he also played higher up the pitch during his time at Brugge.

        2. As for the coach, he made a mistake thinking that CDK is AM. His heatmap scream any attacking positions but AM.

          1. It’s easy for us to say the coach is wrong at this wrong at that where at practice he’s the one who daily manages the player and he’s the one who knows the team’s needs. And different club, different gameplay, different coach, different style will need different player approach (read: heat map that you always bring). And a great player is the one who can adapt to many different approach, it’s the player who should adapt to the system not the other way around. Well unless, if it’s Ibra.

            And thru his recent matches at the Belgium U-21, he’s always fielded on AMC post. So the coach is wrong too? He didn’t look at CdK’s heat map?

          2. Pioli said CdK is trequarista even before he coached CdK (his interview when CdK had not joined his first training with Milan). There was a article published in this site which explaim how CdK’s last season was “Tactical Misunderstanding”. But most of all, the result speak for itself, CdK shone as SS/FW but flopped as AM.

            Heatmap is undeniable and one of the most important statistic. The heatmap of his most succesful season at Brugge is almost devoid of at AM position. His heat signature was mostly at both flanks with some minor part the penalty area but not heat signature behind penalty area. There was an article in this site comparing the heatmap of CDK and Brahim in 2021/2022 season. While Brahim’s heatmap shows that he is AM, CDK’s heatmap clearly shows not AM. Forcing CDK to play as AM is forcing him to play at the position he is unfamilar with, it’s like forcing Leao to play as AM.

            https://sempremilan.com/milans-de-ketelaere-and-adli-problem-heat-maps

          3. Pioli said CdK is trequarista even before he coached CdK (his interview when CdK had not joined his first training with Milan). There was an article published in this site which explaim how CdK’s last season was “Tactical Misunderstanding”. But most of all, the result speak for itself, CdK shone as SS/FW but flopped as AM.

            Heatmap is undeniable and one of the most important statistic. The heatmap of his most succesful season at Brugge is devoid of heat at AM position. His heat signature was mostly at both flanks with some minor part the penalty area but no heat signature behind penalty area. There was an article in this site comparing the heatmap of CDK and Brahim in 2021/2022 season. While Brahim’s heatmap shows that he is AM, CDK’s heatmap clearly shows not AM. Forcing CDK to play as AM is forcing him to play at the position he is unfamilar with, it’s like forcing Leao to play as AM.

            sempremilan*com/milans-de-ketelaere-and-adli-problem-heat-maps

          4. FYI, last season I originally thought CdK was signed as RW with Adli taking the AM position. I was baffled when Pioli said CDK is trequarista as I had already saw the heatmap from sempremilan scouting report.

            sempremilan*com/charles-de-ketelaere-insight-scouting-stats-ac-milan

          5. The fact that on the last season (his best season I assume) he played in Brugge, he’s fielded almost 90% on central role, of course who ever thought to put him on the side? The way he plays on setting up on both sides could also be the way Brugge wants to play, and the coach direction. Anyway, that ‘best’ season he scored 14 goals on Jupiter. Not that prolific for a striker to say the least.

            Not only from the technical view on what position he plays, where he plays, how he plays, the more important aspect we have to see is the mental aspect. One player can be fielded and used wrong in the field, but his approach and attitude should always show up. And that’s the thing we never see in CdK.

            So the the bottomline is that we have to hire Brugge’s coach because he’s the best on using him and getting the best out of him. So he plays based on his heat map. Why we have to bother so much? We have seen far more talented players than him, but simply things just didn’t work out. The way that the management heavily looking for an AMC, RW, and CF just adding the proof that he won’t be the ‘main man’s next season. Well, it’s also maybe because they want to really expose that so-called Maldini’s failure.

          6. Central role? Lol, what you saw on paper is only his FW position. Had you spent time to take a look at the heatmap in the link I provided, you would have find out that he alternate between both flanks, not on center, that’s his role at Brugge.

            His attitude is a result of being turned into fish out of water. His best area are on flanks but he is forced to play centrally.

          7. Of course I’ve seen that. Several times already before this. The point is this: if he can do that on Brugge, alternating between flanks although on paper he’s fielded on centre, what’s stopping him in doing the same in Milan? If he’s being fielded on the side (altho on paper) during his best spell in Brugge, than maybe it’s the coach’s fault in not doing the same.

            But then again, back to my previous points: different club, different gameplay, different coach, different style will need different player approach. If he’s only suited to a certain approach, then he’s not that good. Plain and simple. It’s not like he performs wonder in the national team and then performs like beggars in Milan. He performed like scrounger all year long. Even on a u-21 competition for God sake. Maybe it’s also the Belgium and Belgium u-21 coach fault not to give this golden spoon-fed boy an ideal candy (read: role) on the field.

          8. What stop it is because he was told to play mostly at central area instead of being told to play at the flanks, he has to do as the coach wanted which unfortunately ended up misused him. He is simply not AM.

  7. Change RLC with yunus or dominques.3 midfield on 433 better are reijnders( krunic as deputy), yunus or dominques , bennacer ( pobega are his deputy) . RLC just put as super sub or rotation

  8. all of you are not Pioli, why are you making such a fuss? just take care of your Football Team manager

  9. It’s almost a joke how good Kamada fits in BOTH these formations.

    Come on idiotic management. I hope we are missing something.

    1. I’ve been saying that over and over again too. Moreover we need his character. Several things lacking from last year’s Milan is someone who can make a vital pass and take decent set pieces. Or you want to see Saele takes another set pieces again? And now Tonali’s gone too. Sometimes we underestimate the importance of a decent set pieces taker.

  10. Kamada will add bite to attack. Get him. We need 1 more striker too. Giroud is getting older… injuries may come to haunt him soon.

  11. According to a report ASTON VILLA have sent a 25M offer for CDK while we want 30M, an agreement could be in reach

  12. I thought these football journalists are somewhat experts. 433 won’t work like this. We need a holding midfielder for 433 and currently we have only box to box players. If they at least had Bennacer back he could take over deep playmaker role but he’s out. Krunic is a midfield patch at its best.

    1. Okay, so based on your comment, they already patch the holding midfielder position with Krunic until Bennacer recover from his injury.

      1. No, that’s your interpretation of my comment. Krunic is a patch anywhere where needed be it playmaker, box to box or advanced playmaker. As someone explained on other post – he is not a superstar but has enough football intelligence to play wherever he’s put. Of course he’s average at best.

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