Yahoo Sports MN: ‘We lacked width’ – concerns arise about Milan’s 4-3-3 amid Conceicao’s admission
There has always been a vocal section of the AC Milan fan base calling for a 4-3-3 system, but what we have seen under Sergio Conceicao so far casts doubt on its suitability.
MilanNews recall what Conceicao said after Saturday’s frustrating 1-1 draw against Cagliari at San Siro: “I’ve been a coach for 13 years, comparing the quality of this group to what we did, it was the weakest first half since I’ve been coaching. We lacked rhythm, quality, they were all in front of the goal. We had to find references, depth and we weren’t that good and intelligent on this level.”
Without mincing words, the coach made it clear what he thought of the tempo and the (lack of) aggression from his team. They lined up in a quite tidy 4-3-3 formation, and while the approach play was good the end product was sorely lacking.
Milan were a flat team (as it happened in Milan-Roma with the switch to 3-4-1-2 after Samuel Chukwueze’s injury), halted on the opponents’ defensive line. The central areas became overcrowded because the midfielders were making runs at the wrong time and the two full-backs were coming inside instead of giving width.
More Stories / The Match
MN: ‘We lacked width’ – concerns arise about Milan’s 4-3-3 amid Conceicao’s admission
AC Milan 1-1 Cagliari: Five things we learned – same issues persist as big chances go begging
AC Milan Women 6-0 Napoli: Five different players score as Rossonere run riot
There was an incessant search for vertical movement of the ball that led both to some interesting exchanges but not very dangerous shots, and instead to a build-up phase that was too frenetic and easily readable by the Sardinian rearguard.
Conceiçao’s analysis continued as follows: “We lacked width, and when we had this width we were too still, it seemed like we were filming the game. Leao against two or three needs support and different movements, him and Pulisic on the other side. There is a lot of work to do, you saw well. It is one of the problems, not only that.”
The coach is aware of this problem and had no qualms about underlining it in his post-match comments, just as he tried to make himself understood by the players while he was on the bench. He stood and barked orders at the players, even throwing his jacket down despite the freezing temperatures.
The goal came in a more direct manner, with the Milan lines spaces apart rather than squashed up looking for some quick interplay to try and pick the lock. Theo Hernandez picked up the ball, crossed for Christian Pulisic in space and then Alvaro Morata was on hand to fire in when the volley hit the post.
The 4-3-3 is not a solution to be thrown away because it seems to give greater balance and security to the team, but it will be necessary to correct all those defects that make the attacking manoeuvre predictable and readable.
Conceiçao however has not hidden the fact that he wants to get to the use of two strikers as soon as possible, with work and perhaps also with help from the transfer window. He even admitted that he is having to adapt his style to the players he has, with tomorrow against Como a chance to put things right.
