GdS: 5-4-1 into a 4-4-2 – the tactical approach Allegri has worked on in training

AC Milan’s first friendly test comes on Wednesday afternoon against Arsenal, and more team news continues to come out.

As La Gazzetta dello Sport write, it will not be an easy first game on the tour and Massimiliano Allegri knows it well. Both because Arsenal are a strong side who finished second in the Premier Leagie last season, and because Milan will be without several key players.

In addition to Luka Modric and Santiago Gimenez – who are on vacation – Youssouf Fofana and Alex Jimenez will be missing. Both have suffered with slight problems, but the Frenchman is almost fully back and the Spaniard isn’t too far off.

Three-man defence to be used?

On Saturday in Hong Kong against Liverpool, Fofana and Jimenez will be available again, and perhaps the new signing Pervis Estupinan (deal almost completed) will join the squad.

In the meantime, however, Arsenal are up next. Max tested the three at the back – Tomori, Thiaw, and Pavlovic – with Saelemaekers on the right and Bartesaghi on the left, expected to be more wing-backs than full-backs.

Image: AC Milan

Ricci will be in the middle, with Musah and Loftus-Cheek flanking him as the two box-to-box players. Up front, Leao will be the centre-forward, with Pulisic on the left, who often dropped back to complete the 5-4-1.

In possession, however, the formation transformed into a 4-4-2 with Tomori wide on the right, Saelemaekers advanced down that flank (Pulisic on the left), and RLC supporting Rafa, again playing as the No.9. Allegri often encouraged the Portuguese to press, and, truth be told, he fought hard.