Against Roma they could start together from the start for the first time. Neither of them is a center forward, against the least beaten defense in the championship the secret will be to mix concreteness and creativity to the benefit of each other
The photo above could – and in Allegri’s plans “should” – be the most important expression of the match plan to be used against Roma. Modric serving Rafa Leao and Christopher Nkunku: on paper it’s not bad in terms of the offensive phase. Certainly, leaving aside master Luka for a moment, Rafa and Chris potentially together from the first minute represent a decidedly interesting situation. Better: intriguing. They generate interest not only in the fans but also in the coach, who made no secret of it on the eve of the match: “I’m also curious to see how they will play together, if I will line them up. In football sometimes you find combinations that you don’t expect: they both know how to play football.” Implied: good.
amalgam
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Max is therefore also intrigued by the strange couple. He hasn’t made a definitive decision yet, but it’s clear that the idea of placing them next to each other for the first time since the first minute tickles him a lot. A strange couple because neither of them is a true center forward. They love to vary, follow their instinct, go and get the ball even far from the goal. Two false nines that will have to be put together in a planetary mixer to be blended in the best way. Allegri is also curious because up until now there have been no truly profitable opportunities to concretely understand the potential of the tandem: we stop at sixteen minutes with Juve and fourteen against Pisa. The basic reflection is that this has come about mainly due to the absences: Pulisic is not there and perhaps Gimenez won’t even be there who, in any case, even if he were among the squad, comes from terrible performances and ankle problems. These four names effectively exhaust the number of active forwards (net of those added by Milan Futuro). Allegri clarified in the conference that Loftus-Cheek and Saelemaekers could also be included in the offensive rotations, which has already happened to both of them, but when you think of Leao and Nkunku your imagination is bound to run wild.
synchrony
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It’s easy – even a little childish – to think of dribbling, escapes, sharp crosses, accelerations, crossings. But, as Allegri would say, calm down: the two lead us to imagine spectacle, but then the reality of the facts is different. First of all because concreteness is needed, which is one of the qualities that Allegri values most. And then because, a non-negligible detail, in nine championship games Roma have only kept their door open four times. Mancini and Ndicka are not defenders who are scared when faced with a double step. It will therefore require synchrony in movements and assistance dictated in the best way. Also because both are burdened by physical unknowns. Leao comes from a hip problem which – according to the coach – does not allow him to be at one hundred percent. While Nkunku is continuing the long journey towards optimal form after a summer practically completely lost in athletic terms. The goal he missed against Pisa – when he had to be put back by the defenders after being face to face with the goalkeeper – is the classic example of a leg limited by an inadequate muscular condition.
unpredictability
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However, it is interesting to see that action again in its entirety: it is Leao who sends Chris ahead of Semper. A very effective verticalization that could be excellent modus operandi also with Roma. Neither of them likes to play center stage, both travel on the edge of unpredictability: the trick will be to channel it in a constructive way and not let it remain an end in itself. They will have to be imaginative for the benefit of each other, trusting that the unknowns related to physical appearance do not acquire too much importance. In terms of characteristics, Nkunku is more likely to space out across the entire offensive front and guarantee a more intense double phase than his teammate, but Rafa is also not a last twenty meter attacker. This is why maximum understanding will be needed between the two, in order to offer Modric – and here we return to the initial photo – the possibility of triggering them in the best possible way.
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