AC Milan cannot afford any more slip-ups in their pursuit of a top four spot, with Massimiliano Allegri plotting some attacking changes.
La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) report this morning that Allegri feels he needs to restructure Milan’s attack for Monday’s match against Genoa (assuming it is on Monday) and he has a clear idea, at least based on indications from Milanello.
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In a 3-5-2, the coach is thinking of starting Christopher Nkunku alongside Niclas Füllkrug. It is a move that immediately brings to mind 2022-23, the year those two jointly topped the Bundesliga scoring charts with RB Leipzig and Werder Bremen respectively.
Why Nkunku and Füllkrug?
The lineup obviously isn’t set in stone, as we’re only at the start of the week. A clear trend, however, is evident, as Santiago Gimenez has been quite disappointing and Christian Pulisic is certainly not at 100%.
Yesterday, Captain America trained on the pitch alone. While it’s not a definitive verdict, it’s not the best way to begin the build-up to the penultimate match of the season, one that Milan absolutely must win.
Allegri is inclined to use Nkunku and Füllkrug because both of them showed signs against Atalanta. The Frenchman scored from the penalty spot and hit the crossbar after a masterful save from Carnesecchi.
The German had three moments: the lay-off to Nkunku for the shot that hit the bar, a brilliant through ball to Fofana and a first-time pass to Nkunku in the build-up to the penalty. It was like Fiorentina-Milan, when Füllkrug put Pulisic through on goal three times but didn’t get an assist.
How Nkunku and Füllkrug will get along together is a curious mystery. This season, they’ve played 172 minutes as a pair, spread across nine games. Only once have they started at the same time, in the Easter Monday defeat to Napoli.
Milan scored four goals in those 172 minutes, but what’s more important is understanding how Nkunku and Füllkrug can work together on the pitch. The No.9 has the physique to defend the ball and to be a focal point, holding the ball up and being a target for crosses.
In Max’s mind, this detail is not insignificant: in the match against Atalanta, he felt betrayed by the soft approach of Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Rafael Leao and others. Nkunku will circle around him as a second striker, hoping to hurt Genoa with his vertical runs.
It could work, but Milan desperately need a solution to their attacking problems: before Sunday’s two late goals, the team had scored once in six games.
Seriously, did anyone feel let down by RLC’s performance after last season? I don’t know what happened to Max’s mindset after he first left Juve, but this obsession with the physical attributes of unskilled players like Ruben illustrates the decline of the entire Serie A this season. Unfortunately, judging by the Italian press’s analysis, there’s little sign of a turnaround.
Well this is pure speculation, but if it comes to pass don’t expect miracles.
They looked decent together in the last 15 mins of the last game because they had support from the two lines behind who’d sacked off the game plan and pushed up (who knew strikers are more affective when they’re not isolated 🤷🏻♂️). Whoever starts up front at the weekend won’t have that luxury until we’re 3-0 down.
Whoever in the fronts, as long as milan midfielders only have rabiot ( winning mentality ), exclude Modric still injury, milan will always disappointed. Bet you, milan won’t win next game…
Allegri must leave!
Notre problème n’est pas Leao ou Pulisic c’est l’obstination de Allegri de vouloir jouer à tout prix avec ce 3-5-2 qui ne marche pas. Dans un tel système comment Leao qui n’est pas un attaquant de pointe pour donner le meilleur de lui même. On veut copier l’inter mais eux, chacun joue à son poste de prédilection par exemple Dumfries en piston droit, Dimarco piston gauche et Martinez et Thuram de purs attaquants de pointe et la différence se voit. Allegri passe son temps à faire du bricolage raison pour laquelle on peut pas marquer beaucoup de buts car ceux qui sont sensés marquer des buts ne jouent pas où ils doivent jouer en définitive à chaque match la surface est deserte car ces derniers vers les postes où ils se sentent plus à l’aise c’est à dire les ailes. J’ai toujours détesté ce 3-5-2 et je me demande comment on est passé d’un 4-3-3 annoncé en début de saison pour terminer en 3-5-2 le pire c’est qu’avec ce système on a perdu quasiment tous nos matchs de préparation aujourd’hui on est rattrapé par ses limites
Si on veut vraiment un changement soit on met de purs attaquants dans notre 3-5-2 ou alors on passe directement soit à un 4-3-3 ou un 4-2-3-1 qui correspondent plus aux types de joueurs que nous avons
Illustration : 4-3-3
Maignan
Athekame – Gabbia- Pavlovic – Bartesaghi
Fofana -Modric/Jashari – Rabiot
Pulisic/Alexis – Gimenez/Fullkrug – Leao/Nkunku
Illustration 4-2-3-1
Maignan
Athekame – Gabbia – Pavlovic – Bartesaghi
Fofana – Jashari/Ricci
Pulisic/Alexis – Modric – Leao/Nkunku
Gimenez/Fullkrug
They’re going to do well up front because that’s closer to their roles than say Leao plus whoever.