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The midfield department was arguably the cause of a lot of AC Milan’s issues last season, but now it could become the strength of the tea.
As La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) writes this morning, the middle of the park has undergone the most changes for Milan. The completion of the Ardon Jashari deal follows the arrivals of Samuele Ricci and Luka Modric, and the sale of Tijjani Reijnders.
The directors have done their bit, now it’s up to Massimiliano Allegri to balance the desire, ambition and fitness of his midfielders to consistently find a profitable balance in the formation.
New faces
In friendlies, the coach varied the systems between a 3-5-2 and a 4-3-3. The key point, therefore, remains the three players at the heart of the team. When, against Liverpool and Arsenal, the midfield became a four-man midfield (5-4-1), a striker, usually Christian Pulisic, was the one to connect.
The first factor that reassures Allegri is this: there is considerable abundance in this area, not only numerically, but also technically and physically. In addition to the new players, Youssouf Fofana and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Yunus Musah and Warren Bondo should also be included in the list.
One of the latter two will be sold. The former can also serve as a right-back if needed, while the latter – who is 22 years old in mid-September – needs to play after his experience at Monza, also to evaluate his future.
Allegri could build a formation of only new faces (Modric-Ricci-Jashari), with the two midfielders rotating, but common sense should prevail over the pride of showcasing the new arrivals together to demonstrate that the transfer was a success.
Physicality and technique
It is therefore difficult for the coach to do without the physicality of Youssouf Fofana, while he was very impressed by the inclusion of Ricci in the friendlies.
The former Granata captain improved in the previous season in his closing down and his timing, acting almost like a pure regista in front of the defence. If he needs help, Fofana can rush in; but Jashari is not a man who simply makes incursions.
Elected best player of the Belgian league last season, the Swiss international arrives accompanied by significant statistics, such as that of best ball recovery of Bruges (169) and ability in through passes (11) on a par with Hans Vanaken.
Against Atalanta in the Champions League, he also moved to the wing, to avoid man-marking, but then knew how to move centrally and emerged victorious in the duel with Ederson. When it comes to attacking quality, his build-up play stands out.
Rotations
Milan will only play in domestic competitions, but rotation is a must. Loftus-Cheek, if he isn’t plagued by injuries, will be deployed in a dual role as midfielder and attacking midfielder. His goal-scoring percentage is usually high: two years ago, when he was in better condition, he scored ten goals.
However, Modric, with his elite tactical intelligence, could also step up to the plate, especially for certain deployments in specific match segments. The Croatian’s age (he turns 40 in September) is the unknown factor for his season. How he is managed could be the key.
Combining Fofana’s physical attributes, Ricci’s playmaking abilities, Modric’s dribbling and calmness, Jashari’s versatility, and Loftus-Cheek’s eye for goal – plus at least one other capable reserve – feels like a winning alchemy. Certainly more so than last season.
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