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Among the most encouraging performances for AC Milan during the win over Bologna was that of Adrien Rabiot, and on debut no less.
As La Gazzetta dello Sport‘s Luca Bianchin writes, Rabiot had a bit of a hybrid role in his first start for Milan. He was seen out on the left, almost as a wide midfielder in a 4-4-2 out of possession, but when the team wins the ball back he can surge forward into central areas.
He’s not the easiest player to read, but one thing is already clear: Rabiot will always play, week after week. Allegri has been in love with him for a long time, and he’s already important to Milan.
Allegri’s instructions
In his first start, Allegri asked Rabiot to attack Bologna’s defence from the left. The structure was a new one, with Santiago Gimenez supported by the noticeably taller Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Rabiot, in a bit of a 3-4-2-1.
Adrien isn’t quick over short distances, but he can be unpredictable in his own way: sometimes he helps with the ball and provides a short solution to the player in possession, other times he reads the situation first and dives into the box.
Any defender who sees him charging into the box will do some calculations on his weight and height and understand that stopping him is difficult. So, he can become an added weapon in that sense, helping to support the centre-forward.
Allegri sent Rabiot running to the near post several times, looking for a turn, a deflection, or a header. But the Frenchman is also valuable without the ball: against Bologna, Milan often defended with a 4-4-2, with Adrien as the left midfielder, a position he also occupied in his Juventus incarnation.
He’s not asked to protect the penalty area, but to manage the flank. He’s not a specialist, but he knows how to do it and it gave Pervis Estupinan an easier task. In short, a lot of signs to show how useful Rabiot will be in this Milan side.
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