GdS: ‘Conceicao’s new Milan’ – formation change expected and Bennacer back | OneFootball

Sergio Conceicao will name his first starting line-up as AC Milan head coach on Friday, and some clues have arrived on how it will look.

La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) reports that during yesterday’s training session at 17:30 local time, Conceiçao ‘played’ with the rest of the team. He wasn’t wearing a bib, but he was always in the thick of the action.

You could tell from his loud calls that reached the street, audible from behind the barriers and tarpaulins put up to protect Milan’s session from prying eyes. At times the voice of the former Parma and Lazio player could be heard clearly: he interrupted the action by calling the players to him and explaining what they had to do.

He was almost remote-controlling them like Antonio Conte does, and it is no coincidence that Sergio is defined by many as the Portuguese Conte because of his grit, work methods and determination. But what will his first Milan team be like?

The current idea for tomorrow’s game is a 4-3-3 that could transform into a 4-2-3-1 with the advancement of Tijjani Reijnders, used as an attacking midfielder in the final few games of Paulo Fonseca’s tenure.

At the moment a 4-4-2 – like he often used at Porto – does not seem to be in Conceicao’s mind. Against Juve the centre-forward will be Alvaro Morata and the favourites to flank him are the recovered Christian Pulisic and Alex Jimenez.

The American has overcome the pain in his ankle and also the previous muscular discomfort in his calf: he is fine and Conceiçao needs him, especially since Noah Okafor and Samuel Chukwueze have remained in Italy.

Rafael Leao is not yet ready, while Yunus Musah worked with his team-mates yesterday and – although not at his best – he should be considered capable and enlisted for the role of offensive winger on the right, if and when Pulisic needs to be replaced.

In the middle of the field, Youssouf Fofana and Reijnders are irremovable. Filippo Terracciano will not join them though because he trained separately due to a shoulder injury. Instead it should be Ismael Bennacer, who was used in the second half last Sunday and is ready to start for the first time since August 17.

The Algerian could play as a right-sided mezzala, with Fofana as the central pivot because in Conceiçao’s system, in front of the defence there is usually a player who has the physical structure and ability in the interdiction phase rather than a pure playmaker.

When he returns to 100%, Ruben Loftus-Cheek will play an important role and will be one of the strong candidates for the role of midfielder. It remains to be seen whether the Englishman will go on the bench tomorrow but it is difficult given that yesterday he was on the sidelines.