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After the big investment towards the end of the summer window many have been asking the same thing: where will Christopher Nkunku play?
As La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) recall this morning, Nkunku gave his answer during his first press conference last week when asked where he prefers to play: “Attacking midfielder, but it depends on the game and obviously on the coach’s decisions.”
The French forward has been at Milanello for a week, working to get his fitness back on track after a summer without any minutes in Chelsea’s friendlies. He was involved in the Club World Cup (which Chelsea won) until July 13th, but essentially he hasn’t played a game in two months.
It’s therefore unlikely that he’ll start against Bologna on Sunday night, but it’s more likely that Massimiliano Allegri will give him some minutes in the second half. But where, and in whose place?
Versatility
Barring any tactical changes – which Allegri has accustomed us to in the past – Nkunku won’t operate as a pure attacking midfielder. As long as the coach maintains his 3-5-2 formation, he will likely find space as either a first or second striker.
In the first case he would operate alongside Christian Pulisic; in the latter case in support of Rafael Leao as the new centre forward. The Frenchman possesses the quality and versatility to perform both roles effectively.
He has the eye for goal required to target the opposition (only Santiago Gimenez, in the current AC Milan squad, has reached the 20-goal mark in a single season) and the movement to rotate around a ‘number nine’.
After all, we’re talking about a player who started out at PSG as a midfielder and has since evolved into every attacking role, from attacking midfielder to winger, all the way to full-fledged striker. For this reason, Allegri will be able to indulge himself match after match in choosing how to use him.
System fluidity
It’s natural to imagine a three-man attacking trio of pace and technique with Nkunku, Pulisic and Leao. It is a fascinating solution, but also a difficult one for the rest of the team to absorb, unless the three ace players make the necessary sacrifices.
A 3-4-2-1 0 or even a 4-3-3 or a 3-4-1-2 – is doable with Christopher in the squad. It will be possible with time, but not immediately because Max favours balance, and in a Milan side still reeling from the recent loss of too many goals, solidity must be the first priority.
Allegri, however, is also a coach who recognises and loves talent. When he’s had it in abundance (see in certain years at Juventus or in his first spell at Milan) he hasn’t skimped on using it in massive doses.
At Milanello, it only took him a few training sessions to realise that Nkunku is no ordinary player. What impressed the Livorno-born coach? Speed, footwork (he shoots with both his right and left foot almost equally) and intelligence.
While it’s true that in modern football, with the possibility of five substitutions, coming off the bench isn’t nearly as big a deal as it once was, it’s equally undeniable that it won’t be easy to decide to leave out one of the Frenchman, Pulisic or Leao from the starting XI.
Who knows, maybe Allegri will surprise us sooner or later with a bold tactical decision. Other ideas? Pulisic at wing-back instead of Alexis Saelemaekers, or as a creative midfielder.
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