Given the separation from the pack at the top of the table, Saturday’s game against Juventus is pretty much a must-win for AC Milan, meaning Paulo Fonseca cannot afford to make the wrong decisions.
This morning’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) has a section titled: ‘Obliged to win. An attacking Milan to return to the top. Morata striker, Loftus-Cheek all-rounder. Fonseca changes again: Alvaro in the area, Pavlovic returns to the bench. And Ibra observes’.
The premise is that three points is the only way for the Rossoneri to immediately jump back into the Scudetto discussion, while a defeat would leave them firmly out of the race. That is why Fonseca must prepare for the game meticulously, and he has a plan in mind.
The head coach will have the whole team available only tomorrow, given the amount of players that have been away on international duty, with the last lot of games having been played last night.
What that means is he has just two days to prepare for the arrival of the Bianconeri and study the right tactics to tangle Thiago Motta’s plans. In this sense, Milan could redesign themselves to protect the defence more.
A 4-3-3 is expected at the moment, led by an attacking trio of Christian Pulisic on the right, Rafael Leao on the left and Alvaro Morata down the middle against his former club. Youssouf Fofana and Tijjani Reijnders would remain in midfield, with Ruben Loftus-Cheek the other mezzala.
The Englishman could also play if Fonseca decided to keep a 4-2-3-1, playing as an attacking midfielder with Pulisic still wide. It is a doubt that Fonseca will only be able to resolve tomorrow when he has everyone available.
In defence, Fikayo Tomori seems certain of a place – and he has scored multiple goals against Juve in the past – while one of Malick Thiaw or Matteo Gabbia will play alongside him. Theo Hernandez and Emerson Royal seem certain to occupy the full-back positions.
Musah >>>>> RLC
heck, Teracciano >>>>> RLC
Musah played 2 games. RLC hasn’t played a single one.
Is there a love affair between Fonseca and Loftus-Cheek ? I’ve never seen a player being so crappy yet somehow managing to being started.
If we have to start with 3 midfielders, why not rely on Musah who actually had 1 good game this season (which 1 good game more than Loftus-Cheek) ?
Maybe he will step up.. he did somewhat ok vs napoli.
Musah isn’t as fresh ‘cuz of the national games
4-3-3…… and the clouds part accompanied by harps and singing angels 🌤️
How very sensible of him…
Musah for RLC all day and every day
I think he’s keeping Musah on the bench cause he’s the only one who can currently step in for either Fofana or RLC depending on the needs. Not that Musah is good at any of those roles but that’s what we have.
What if we now use 4-3-3 and still loose is better we play the 4-2-3-1 and again I prefer musah over Loftus cheek musah is quite better and he supports the team with is assist despite he doesn’t score a goal.
Wouldn’t be disappointed if we lose playing 433. Afterall, we don’t have a proper DM for that formation. Fofana is not one.
With this set of players 343 is most suitable.
Seriously, Fofana not a DM? Ted you’re too busy looking at snowflakes haha. He’s not a regista for sure but he definitely can play as a traditional DM in a 433. The guy can play more than one position…
Fofana is a box to box player, he never played DM. Even in Monaco he was paired with an actual DM.
Get your facts straight.
We don’t have the players for a 4-2-3-1. Reijnders is a Mezzala, and actually plays in a 4-3-3 with the Netherlands. Loftus-Cheek is a mezzala, Musah is a mezzala.
A 4-2-3-1 requires an attacking midfielder which we don’t have, Loftus-Cheek sucks as an AM, Reijnders failed as an AM and even Pulisic didn’t thrive there, and it also requires 2 doubles pivots which we don’t have. Fofana is a pivot but he played alongside a more defensive profile.
Also everytime we played a 4-2-3-1 against half decent oppositions, we failed miserably.
We do lack a defensive midfielder for a 4-3-3, but it’s the best formation given our current players. That or a 3-4-3.
Oh wow what an innovative idea playing 433, the system our players were bought for.
If we play 433 then it makes sense to play RLC in his favored role, if he doesn’t perform transfer list him.
Musah likely to be kept in reserve to replace any of the other 3 midfielders, that is literally all we have (scary)
Agree.
We sold Tonali and used the money to buy Rjeinders, Musah and RLC. Being told it was so we could play 433.
Then Pioli played 433 for about 5 weeks and ditched it.
It really is perplexing why we persist with 4231.
How RLC keeps getting minutes while contributing nothing but possession losses is wild…