Serie A have three sides in the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time since 2005-06, and they could each learn something from the great Calcio sides of the past.
That is according to today’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport (as seen below), who write that if there is a historically European club in Italy then it is Milan, who see the Champions League as a tradition and a culture that is not invented overnight. A
Emerging victorious after the two legs against Tottenham to go against the generally dreadful record against English clubs was a feat that goes beyond any possible crisis that was spoken of around the time of the games.
Now the fearlessness, speed, imagination and unpredictability of Pioli’s side must be used to try and get a semi-final spot, starting with Theo as a full-back/mezzala, then with Rafael Leao a profile more similar to the original again Ronaldo, or in any case along the lines of Kakà.
The last successful Milan side in this competition was back in 2007 with Kakà and Seedorf behind Inzaghi, and with Pirlo, Gattuso and Ambrosini as the midfielders. It could be a tactical suggestion for Pioli to switch back to a four-man defence with three midfielder and three forwards.
Seedorf was a mid. Kaka was a roaming attacking mid. Only Inzaghi was the true forward with Kaka being the other. It was a Christmas tree formation. But it worked then because of the personnel we had. We definitely don’t have a Kaka now so it probably wouldn’t work.