MN: Allegri names first Milan XI since 2014 – the players and system used

AC Milan won routinely in a game against the Futuro this afternoon, and there were some big names selected.

It’s pre-season and certain players are with international teams, so there is not going to be a full-strength side named. After all, this is not a time for the full XI to be used, it is a chance to try different ideas.

For Massimiliano Allegri, it was a chance to try the main ideas in the system he wants to play. Despite it being against the youth team, it was a succesful test.

Allegri’s XI

In his first team since 2014, the coach selected a pretty strong squad, all things considered as MilanNews writes. At least for the first 45 minutes, considering the teams were split.

New signing Pietro Terracciano started between the sticks, whilst the back four was made up of Pietro Terracciano, Fikayo Tomori, Strahinja Pavlovic and Davide Bartesaghi. In midfield, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Warren Bondo flanked Samuele Ricci.

Then, Alexis Saelemaekers and Lorenzo Colombo (both returnees) started alongside Rafael Leao. A very solid team indeed, especially when considering the current circumstances. We also know that Mattia Liberali and Matteo Gabbia featured in the second half, with both scoring once, per reports.

Certainly a change in standard from his last XI, but, in pre-season at least, that was always going to be the case. Also, using the 4-3-3 is not really a shock, considering it has been widely expected.