3 days ago
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AC Milan’s preseason preparations are well underway, and they have already given us some signals regarding what to expect.
As La Gazzetta dello Sport recall, Milan have been playing since July 7 and a week earlier both Juventus and Inter ended their seasons, eliminated in the round of 16 of the Club World Cup. Napoli, the champions, had their first preseason game on July 17th.
Massimiliano Allegri was ahead of the curve knowing he and the entire team needed a flying start: for results, for the credibility that a new project must immediately gain. The Rossoneri started preseason 40 days before their official match, on August 17th against Bari in the Coppa Italia round of 64.
A year ago, to compare working methods when the big teams are not seeded, Napoli debuted on August 10th (a hard-fought Coppa Italia qualification, with a penalty shootout against Modena) and Antonio Conte had led his new players for the first time on July 12th in Dimaro.
Allegri in a hurry
Allegri wants to speed things up, partly because Milan had a tour of Asia and Australia on his agenda, but he’s also in a hurry to make himself known, to coach the team, and to make his immediate mark on their ambitions.
After Bari, Max’s side will face Cremonese and Lecce in the league in August, followed by the international break and, most importantly, the transfer window. Some coaches use the final few days of open negotiations to secure reinforcements they’ve previously requested in vain.
Allegri would like to demonstrate that he has a ready-made squad, one that can be improved with a last-minute signing, but one that doesn’t necessarily have to depend on a late-transfer boom, which is often a late or expensive solution.
The tour to the East
While there’s no reason to get too excited about the victory over Liverpool, where good ideas thrived against the carefree attitude of the English champions, any Rossoneri fan knows that yesterday’s 9-0 win over Perth Glory wasn’t a real test.
The friendly in Australia was useful for giving the entire squad playing time, for rotating the new manager’s tactical intentions, and for practicing, even mentally, how to finish easily. The trip to the East, however, served to provide an initial demonstration of Allegri’s convictions.
Averaging the three matches (a defeat against Arsenal, a win in the other two), the signs point to a team that sat compact, protecting the three central defenderswhen the opponent was tougher than Perth, but also a group that is quick to seek out space in transition.
The best of Leao
These concepts bring out the best of Rafa Leao’s best qualities, they enhance Christian Pulisic’s athleticism and technical prowess, plus Alexis Saelemaekers’s freshness on the flanks. Yesterday, in addition to Pervis Estupinan’s debut, Alex Jimenez also recovered.
For Milan, who are constantly searching for new wingers on the market, these are developments worth considering. Allegri has clearly been keeping a keen eye on different tactical solutions; 4-3-3 remains on his radar, especially since this isn’t the definitive face of Milan.
Modric to be added
Luka Modric will be inserted either as a mezzala or as a regista, then a centre-forward is needed, because the Leao solution demonstrated during the tour can’t be permanent. When a striker does join, the Portuguese should move back out wide.
Milan are coming off a season that sent them to the first round of the Coppa Italia, while the other big clubs are watching, and they can only compete for domestic trophies. Both coach and club need a flying start to close the door on the past.
The first part of the Rossoneri’s work has shown desire and ideas, reflecting a coach who doesn’t intend to remain a prisoner of the good old days, just like Milan.
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