Milan, three or four defense between Atalanta and derby with Inter

The story will also be a teacher of life, as Cicero said, but the problem here is to understand which page of read history. Sergio Conceiçao seems decided to inspire with the three -way defense for Easter match with Atalanta and has a decision to make for Wednesday derby in the Italian Cup: playing with the three or four line? There are good reasons to decide in both decisions. Let’s see what changes and what … no.

Because three

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Milan in Udine added a defensive plant. Conceiçao played with Tomori, Cage and Pavlovic, using Alex Jimenez and Theo Hernandez da Quinti. An advantage for many, at least on paper. Pavlovic as an arms of the left is much more at ease than from the central to four, a position in which he has made a lot of wrong in the season. Theo has the most covered shoulders and can attack, without Milan paying its defensive distractions. Alex Jimenez can give the best by accelerating off the coast. Watch out for words. Leao: “I found myself very well with this module. I found the movements in front, I created dangers, those in front of me looked for me a lot. The coach has created a beautiful strategy. We are more compact, there is a man more to defend. And then in front we are more free to attack”. Pulisic: “The new game system worked. Yes, I like it”.

Because four

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All true, however, in the four season games with Inter, Milan played with two plants, not three. Conceiçao in the first leg in the Italian Cup began with Walker, Cage, Thiaw and Hernandez. When he shot the Riad game, he played with a particular 4-2-4, with Abraham and Morata in front. In the end of the cage derby, with Fonseca on the bench, the defense was four. The “three”, never seen. And then, the objection is easy: why change a structure that clearly bothers Inter?

What changes: men

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Conceiçao will choose in the next few days and Milan-Atalanta on Sunday can be a general test because Atalanta plays with the three-way defense, such as Inter. Some similarity (and obviously more than some difference) there is. The return of Walker, who absolutely wants to be available against Inter, in the case of a three -way line opens a ballot: in the position of the central right, he or tomori. Two quick but different players for habits. Alex Jimenez with the three-way defense seems perfect, while in a 4-2-3-1 he risks being too offensive to play from full-back and only an alternative to high outdoor Pulisic. Reijnders on paper with the “three” would play a few meters back but now it has been understood, with that natural race of his it almost always comes where it must.

What changes: positions

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Conceiçao’s decision will also affect Milan’s form. AC Milan in Udine often set with the three plants, pushing Jimenez and Theo on the midfielders line, with Fofana-Reijnders Central couple and Pulisic often moved to the center, as an outdoor-trickle-wing-three-artist center. Other times, Conceiçao built with four defenders and two plants, drawing almost a 4-2-3-1 with high external Jimenez. Nothing different from what has already been seen, for example in the first leg in the championship. Without the ball, it changes a lot especially for Alex Jimenez. AC Milan in the Cup derby defended 4-4-2 and Jimenez lowered, let’s say from Quinto defender, when Carlos Augustus attacked in the band. In Udine, however, immediately, Milan went to five behind and defended with a very narrow 5-2-3, in which Pulisic and Leao closed the central lines. A choice already seen against Inter between San Siro and Riad. Perhaps Conceiçao has already decided on this: we remove as much oxygen as possible to Barella, Calhanoglu and MkhiTaryan … and go as it goes.