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AC Milan were beaten 3-2 by Virtus Entella today. Whilst it was a fitness test/opportunity, the result certainly was not great.
Heading into today’s game, a lot of the focus was rightly on the ability of some players to get through 90 minutes. So, the fact that a few first-teamers, as well as the returning Christian Pulisic and Ardon Jashari, got through the game, is only a positive.
There can, of course, be issues with the goals conceded. Nevertheless, it was a bit of a mixed team. So it is not a case of a full-strength Milan losing to a Serie B side. The defence was almost entirely made up of Futuro names, with the attack largely the same.
With this, there are not as many takeaways from the game. Nevertheless, here is what we learned.
Jashari’s future
Moving forward, it seems that Ardon Jashari will be the holding midfielder for the long term. In the first half, which was really the true showing of him, he was a class above the opposition, as you would expect, really.
It would, perhaps, be a little extreme to compare him to Luka Modric. However, those characteristics were visible, just on a lesser scale, of course. The Swiss midfielder pretty much glided through the first half, and it was a strong performance.
His second 45 minutes were certainly not as strong. It is his first minutes since a fibula fracture, so we cannot be too critical. Players are normally eased in with cameos, not a 90-minute game, for physical reasons and mental ones, too. It is proof that both elements need match-work before he is ready to start.
So, to see him play the full game, with mistakes or not, is a really big thing for the Rossoneri, and perhaps the only thing. He is certainly not ready to start in Serie A just yet, but it seems the Lazio game (December 4) will be targeted as a potential opportunity.
If he can come in for Modric when required to, it will only increase the learning curve, which is already taking shape nicely.
View to the future
Personnel make a lot of decisions for managers, and this has been a theme for the season. At first, it seemed Massimiliano Allegri would set the Diavolo up in a 4-3-3 formation. However, it was not feasible.
So, he has reverted to a 3-5-2 for most of the games this year. Of course, it has been fluid and changeable to a four-back when required. It has normally been for a back three, or five if you include the wing-backs.
Today, though, Allegri opted for a 4-3-3, again. Of course, it was a case of personnel, with him not having Alexis Saelemaekers or Fikayo Tomori to allow that fluidity. Regardless of that, it could be further proof that he prefers a four.
Perhaps, this can be countered; Milan conceded another three goals in a back four, so it could just point more in favour of a back three. Nevertheless, the long-term plan could be for Allegri to make do with what is available for now and then consider changing back to a bank of four.
We shall have to see what the future brings in that department.
How Pulisic-Leao could work
Throughout today’s game, Pulisic was trialled in a few different ways. During the first half, the American inverted regularly, but was meant to play on the wing. However, in the second half, he was very much the physical presence.
In the first 45 minutes, he played off a strike partner almost, when he inverted, and his goal came after a threaded ball through to him, which he finished well. For the second 45, it was him between two wingers.
Chances were there in the second half, but they were not as frequent, nor did they feel as natural. So, many would lead to him being better suited to playing off of another, as has been the case with Rafael Leao.
The Portuguese has been claimed to be working alone at points this season, so if he were to have someone who also needed another alongside, you could get the best of both worlds. Both Pulisic and Leao have proven they have the ability to score and create chances this season, so, theoretically, they could work together in a two, even if it is unconventional.
Milan would certainly need a striker to arrive still, but for now, it could be the way to raise the attacking threat whilst the mercato is closed.
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