Terracciano and the inverted role under Fonseca: Napoli test up next | OneFootball

Filippo Terracciano is expected to replace Theo Hernandez for AC Milan’s game against Napoli on Tuesday. Based on the previous two appearances, it’s clear that the full-back has an inverted role under Paulo Fonseca.

Terracciano was signed by Milan during the January transfer window last season and he didn’t get much playing time under Stefano Pioli. The situation has improved a bit under Fonseca, even if he remains just a deputy, and there is one interesting thing to note about his role.

With the Napoli game coming up next, in which he’s expected to start given Theo Hernandez’s suspension, fans should keep an eye on the position. Against Lazio as well as Udinese, Terracciano clearly had an inverted role while Milan had possession, moving into the midfield.

Being a right-footed player who primarily has played on the right, or as a wing-back on the left, he’s not entirely comfortable as a ‘classic left-back’ when moving forward. The inverted role seems to have been Fonseca’s way to fix this, attracting man-marking in the middle to open space for others out wide.

Of course, the tactics depend heavily on the opponent and it will be interesting to see how Fonseca will use Terracciano against Napoli. It likely won’t be anything fancy in the defensive phase, but the inverted role could make itself known in possession.

It should be noted that Terracciano has been booked in both of his appearances, so the odds of him getting another one on Tuesday are low.