AC Milan suffered a tough defeat against Atalanta on Saturday evening and as highlighted this morning, they were not helped by their head coach. Tactical changes, despite a serious injury crisis, created too much confusion.
As highlighted by Gazzetta dello Sport this morning (see photo below), identity is a serious thing that cannot be changed too often in football. Milan won against Fiorentina and Frosinone thanks to a more pragmatic style, which seemed like a logical choice given the many injuries.
However, against Atalanta, Pioli decided to ‘revive’ some of his tactical ideas. Alessandro Florenzi had a very central role, almost alongside Tijjani Reijnders, and Theo Hernandez tried to find paths on the inside. Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Yunus Musah, meanwhile, had more advanced positions.
A 4-3-3 on paper, but one with a lot of movement that increased the risk of misunderstandings in the defensive phase. It would have been better for Milan to go back to the basics, especially given how pressing-oriented Atalanta are.
The first Milan goal came from a corner, having nothing to do with the aforementioned ‘positionalism’, as Olivier Giroud headed it home. When Atalanta then re-took the lead in the second half, Pioli put his ambitions aside and subbed on Ismael Bennacer as well as Luka Jovic.
Instead of the fluid 4-3-3, Milan shifted to a 4-2-3-1 of sorts and it paid off with the 2-2 goal from Jovic. And then, it almost seemed like the Rossoneri could snatch all three points, gaining some momentum and finding ways through all of a sudden.
Davide Calabria’s sending-off changed everything, receiving a very low score in our player ratings, and Luis Muriel’s winner was deserved in many ways. For Milan, Inter are now nine points ahead and the Scudetto race is looking almost impossible.
Many are convinced that this Milan team is better than what the league standings show, and now a compromise must be found between technique and strategy. Pioli’s positionalism perhaps shouldn’t be the go-to.
Its not positionalism, it’s idiotism.
Bennacer changed the match with his introduction as finally we had a player who knows how to direct the midfield and was in his position, contrary to Reijnders who is played at the base when he would be much better as a box to box. Finally ,that hole that Atalanta had a field day with because of Theo ,unable to stick to his man, was plugged by Bennacer protecting the centre , something Musah, RLC and Reijnders can’t do.
Where are the Milan fans, who claimed Pioli belongs to the top 1% of coaches?
I think by now Pioli would have learnt is lesson I was just silent trying to see what Pioli would do but all to know avail I said this time without number that Acmilan should play the 4-2-3-1 because we have identify that krunic and tomori is the reason Acmilan didn’t reach final. And again Acmilan can press’s the opponents they can score more than 2 goals in a match rubbish Pioli insisted saying he know what is doing Pioli is just daft not knowing Acmilan system is an issue this is not Lazio and again Pioli should start lining up the 4-2-3-1 once leao is backed then use Romero back of striker then chukwueze to start then rejnder and benercer hold the midfield then Noah Okafor will play as sub to replace chukwueze then pulisic to replace leao then Loftus cheek to replace Romero and you will see Acmilan winning again then musah to sub rejnder this pattern is simple Pioli is just confusing the team and the players. Please Pioli start using Kjaer as Ur main defender instead of tomori because tomori is not experienced we have concede to many goals so Pioli take note at least by January will set up a new line up
M.maignan
Calabria,Kjaer,Jakub kiwor, Hernandez
Benercer, rejnder
Chukwueze, Ryan charki,leao
Akor
so you want to start Chukwueze the biggest flop so far, and bench Pulisic, arguably our best player since the beginning of the season ?
Sounds like the “Idea of the Year”. It has HUGE SUCCESS written all over it, doesn’t it? 😀
Sorry man I don’t think you will find too many in agreement with your line up. I understand you are searching for solutions but not to many would start Chukwueze at least not with the form he has shown. We are in a hard place with injuries and a coach making poor in game adjustments. Keep it up tho. I liked to see what other line ups you’d like to see.