GdS: Youth, tactical identity and mentality – Milan have edge over Juve in four areas | OneFootball

AC Milan will take on their old rivals Juventus this Sunday at the Allianz Stadium in what promises to be a fascinating battle.

La Gazzetta dello Sport have given an in-depth preview of the game comparing each side from various points of view. They begin by looking at the mental condition of each team, giving Milan the edge 7 to 6.5 over the Bianconeri.

Allegri’s side got their first win and a first clean sheet in 17 games by beating Malmo in midweek, while Milan returned from Liverpool with the pleasant awareness of having put one of the best teams in Europe in difficulty, and they have won three out of three in the league.

Milan also get the edge 7 to 6 in their game, as Allegri is still trying to get to grips with rebuilding his style at Juve and the one point taken from the first nine available are a sign of that. The Rossoneri played a practically perfect match against Lazio and now look more clinical – as the game at Anfield showed – with Pioli having built something over nearly two years.

Milan are clear of Juve on team identity (7.5 out of 10 compared to 5 for their opponents) precisely because Allegri is trying to take the team forward in small steps after a damaging 2020-21 season under Pirlo. The identity is one of the great points in favour of Milan this year as they have been able to continue with the work of Pioli, which is bearing fruit.

Finally, the Rossoneri also have the edge in management of young players (7.5 to 7). Juve have focused heavily on restocking talent as seen in the purchases of the 19-year-old Kaio Jorge, the 21-year-old Moise Kean and the 23-year-old Locatelli, then there is Kulusevski (21), De Ligt (22), Chiesa and McKennie (23).

However, there is no denying that youth is the cornerstone of Elliott’s project where the amount of under 25s is almost crazy. Tonali and Leao are growing alongside the likes of Tomori, Hernandez, Calabria, Bennacer, Saelemaekers.

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