GdS: The ‘real Milan’ – how Amorim overcame an injury crisis to beat Udinese with bold choices
AC Milan needed to bounce back after the midweek defeat to Bournemouth, and they did so with a 2-0 win over Udinese.
La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) write this morning that Ruben Amorim fielded a Milan side decimated by injuries. Nonetheless, it was a team that – following the flop in England three days prior – needed to prove it had reliable depth. It succeeded.
On the other, Udinese are teetering on the edge of an abyss: five consecutive defeats weighed heavily on coach Runjaic, and a sixth could have pushed him over the brink. That doesn’t seem to be the case though, as the board seem willing to give him until the international break.
For Milan – who are still unbeaten in Serie A – the threat of stumbling has for the moment receded. Having gone without an away win since the opening day against Torino, this victory vaults them into the Champions League spots.
They have now caught up with Roma, with only Inter and Lazio ahead of them. The week ahead will conclude with the Milan derby, following a tricky encounter with Bologna.
New resources found
Self-confidence is growing at Milan, partly due to the emergence of new key players such as Davide Bartesaghi, who has taken on an all-purpose role on the left. Furthermore, the range of options is expanding within a squad increasingly plagued by injuries.
Milan show a consistent identity, even while cycling through various tactical systems. The general trend is positive, even if the final half-hour against Atalanta and the opening period against Bournemouth show there is a lot of work to do to become complete.
For this match, the tactical framework proved decisive, with goals from Christian Pulisic and Omari Hutchinson securing the result. The lineup, however, looked quite different: while Ramos returned, Amorim found himself without Adrien Rabiot, Mario Gila and Diego Moreira.
Consequently, he had to make do with the resources at his disposal as he himself admitted. By reshuffling the set-up, he managed to dismantle the defensive precautions prepared by Udinese, a side that look increasingly fragile (having conceded 18 goals in total).
Bartesaghi’s position
In Amorim’s formation, Bartesaghi operated as a winger in a 4-2-3-1. At times, he played like an out-and-out striker, making runs from the attacking midfield zone, and he even came close to scoring on two occasions.
Throughout the match, the Italian consistently looks to exploit the space in behind, yet he also drops back to provide defensive cover, slotting in as a fifth defender alongside Sankhoun Diawara who put in a solid performance in his Serie A debut.
Two other players make their first league starts: Hutchinson and Fikayo Tomori, both positioned on the right flank. While Hutchinson was less prominent early on, he eventually netted his first goal for the Rossoneri.
The playmaking duties were entrusted to two pure creators, Luka Modrić and Ardon Jashari. Despite the lack of a more physical defensive midfielder alongside them, they handle their defensive responsibilities with ease.
Both were involved in the goals. Luka, in particular, plays a key role in the opener. His partner covered for him during defensive transitions, and while Modrić may not be the fastest player, his class always shines through.
Pulisic also stood out as one of the best on the pitch, proving both dangerous and proactive. He drifted behind or alongside Ramos, and it is his darting run into space that Modrić spots, turning what appeared to be a harmless free-kick into an assist for the opening goal.
No one from the Udinese side tracks the ball. Davis shifted out of position, while Vojvoda hesitated and failed to hold the offside line. The result: the American scores his second goal of the season.
Down and out
Runjaic’s side lined up in what looked more like a 3-5-1-1 than their usual 3-4-2-1, as Ekkelenkamp tended to play as a third midfielder, shifting to a wide-right/interior role in the second half.
When they managed to string together reliable combinations, the hosts reached the edge of the penalty area, but were then forced to rely on long-range shots, which Maignan handled with ease.
Only in the final stages did Davis get a good chance from close range, but he fired the ball straight at the goalkeeper. Missing Solet and Alaba at the back – and with Zaniolo introduced midway through the second half – Udinese lacked clear ideas.
While they didn’t completely fold physically after falling behind early, they failed to pose a real threat inside the box, and left far too much space when forced to defend. Sitting in second-to-last place, the winds of crisis have turned into a full-blown storm.
