MN: Three-man defence succeeds again – a parting gift or a foundation to build from? | OneFootball

Sergio Conceicao has reshaped AC Milan with a three-man defence, and the results in three of the four games have been excellent.

As MilanNews report, the victory against Venezia was more for morale than for the standings. With the Coppa Italia final in 17 days, the important thing is to test a system that is destined to be used until the end of the season, to keep the match rhythm of the starters and give minutes to the returning players.

At the Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo, we saw all this: victory at minimum effort, and a game managed very well. If it is true that Venezia tried to attack from the beginning, on the other hand Mike Maignan was almost never really called to make any big stops.

Despite not being a formation that is really Conceiçao’s style and having been pulled out of necessity, after Kyle Walker’s injury, the 3-4-3 is working. Since its launch, three wins and one defeat have come, a qualification to the Coppa Italia final and just one goal conceded, against Atalanta.

In fact, the infamous balance that has been missing since the first day of the season has been found, with fast wing-backs like Jimenez and Theo who can break away with greater freedom having the third central player who can cover their runs.

Leao can act with less defensive responsibility, Pulisic can move inside without having the attacking midfielder as an ‘obstacle’ and the same goes for Reijnders, who provides the ball more frequently and can get inside with greater ease.

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There were more observations from Sunday’s win too. Fofana looked back to his best, recovering plenty of balls and providing the assist for Pulisic. The American – who seemed to be one of the question marks of this 3-4-3 – was today the best player on the field.

Milan got a goal from Gimenez, which will hopefully flip the switch in his head and put him in good form to be useful in this final part of the season. Walker is back, Loftus-Cheek has found playing time and little by little almost everyone is returning.

Conceiçao’s words at the end of the match did not go unnoticed. The Portuguese coach hinted subtly that he might be the one to leave and not the one to be left: “In a month or so I too will say what I want. It may be that I too have other thoughts.”

Besides, his post-Atalanta statements, where he had highlighted how there was little respect towards him were already a first alarm bell.