Manchester City 2-3 AC Milan: Three things we learned – Fonseca-ball in full flow | OneFootball

AC Milan began their second consecutive American tour on Saturday night with a 3-2 victory against Manchester City at the Yankee Stadium. Although it was only a friendly, there were a lot of positives from the game, so let’s dive into the three key things.

Following the draw against Rapid Wien, Paulo Fonseca has had another week of working with his squad, as he aims to prepare them for the upcoming season, and we are slowly starting to see his tactical nuances implemented onto the squad.

Erling Haaland kickstarted the scoring, but a four-minute brace from Lorenzo Colombo put Milan into the lead. Whilst James McAtee levelled for the Citizens, Marco Nasti scored the winner 12 minutes from time.

Fonseca-ball in the works

Manchester City are probably the best team in world football, and beating them should offer a level of excitement. However, it is then important to remember that it is a pre-season friendly, where both sides fielded weakened elevens.

Nevertheless, we can still get a grasp of how a team is going to be set up in the season to come, and we are gradually seeing Fonseca’s football come together.

There was a clear focus on playing the ball out of the defence quickly on Saturday night, and there were some very nice patterns of play. Furthermore, the Diavolo’s transitions were fast, and there was a clear focus on getting onto the front foot as quickly as possible.

Again, it is important not to get carried away, but the basic stylistic elements and ideas will remain consistent throughout the season. Fonseca was hired to play on the front foot and to play exciting football, and there were several showings of this against City, and he vocalised his pleasure about this after the game.

An exciting headache

There is a continuing conversation about how Fonseca will set up his Milan team, and it will continue until the end of the mercato. The main area in focus is the middle five players in the team. From a flat midfield three to a double pivot with a 10, there remains a lot to be seen in terms of composition but there is an emerging problem.

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Earlier in the summer, there were suggestions that Ruben Loftus-Cheek and another midfielder could be a double pivot with Tijjani Reijnders in front of them. However, the idea of Christian Pulisic playing as the Trequartista is being liked again, and Samuel Chukwueze’s performance will create an exciting headache.

Pulisic was fantastic on the wing for the Rossoneri last season, but when he played centrally he shone just as brightly, and he could facilitate Chukwueze’s role in the team. The Nigerian winger is much more prone to staying wide and eventually cutting in, whereas when Pulisic can float between both wings and be a presence around the box. Perhaps, Fonseca could be onto a gem.

Should certain players depart?

Two of Milan’s best players against City were Alexis Saelemaekers and Lorenzo Colombo, and both players are seemingly heading towards the door. Yesterday, it was reported that the young striker will return to Italy on Monday to move to Empoli, and Saelemaekers is set to leave this summer as well.

However, is it the right decision?

There have been questions about the Rossoneri’s striker department for several months now, and it seems that a three-striker prong is the ideal case, Colombo could have been a very good option for a part within that – his movement was excellent for both goals, and he was a consistent threat. Nevertheless, it seems his fate is sealed.

In regards to Saelemaekers, though, nothing is done, and maybe it should stay that way. The Belgian winger was bright throughout the game, and Fonseca spoke highly of his performance after the game. Not only is he a good player who can play a viable role within the squad, but he can play a range of positions, which is vital for squad depth, something which you can not have enough of.