BASIC SET-UPS
Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri stuck with his preferred 4-3-1-2 system as shown in the set-up while Leonardo preferred a 4-2-3-1/4-2-1-3 system today, a system not too dissimilar from that employed in recent weeks against Lecce and Brescia.
INTER HAVE ONLY DEFICIENCIES
Leonardo’s system today saw Inter suffer. A basic error was playing only two deep players in midfield or only two defensive players in midfield. Calling his system today a 4-2-fantasia would not be incorrect. Eto’o and Pandev played very high up the pitch and contributed nothing defensively. Sneijder also did little to help out the defence in his role as trequartista (Something Dejan Stankovic does as he drops deep into midfield to form a midfield three).
As a result of having only two tacklers in midfield, Inter suffered in this department. Gattuso and Seedorf as wide players in a midfield diamond had a duty of getting forward whenever possible. This meant Inter had to defend with 2 midfielders against 3 meaning one of Gattuso or Seedorf was usually free. Seedorf benefited the most from this as Motta marked Boateng and Cambiasso got involved in challenges, Seedorf enjoyed space in an almost permanently advanced role on the left.
Inter also failed to attack down the right preferring to build attacks through Eto’o, Sneijder (who tends to move left). Van Bommel did a good job of covering Sneijder. Gattuso and Abate combined to keep Eto’o and Javier Zanetti (who contributed little going forward) quiet. Inter concentrated their efforts down their left and did not make the most of the prospect of Maicon attacking Zambrotta on their right flank.
MILAN ENJOY ADVANTAGES
Robinho and Pato tended to drift into the Milan left channel, (Maicon’s space) with Robinho moving intelligently towards the centre (behind and ahead of the defence). Milan took the lead very early in the 1st minute. At first, the goal seemed to come out of nothing but as the game played on, the natural advantage Milan had over Inter in midfield while attacking (3v2) was responsible for this goal. The lack of bodies making challenges just in front of the Inter box allowed some quick passing build-up and Gattuso slipped a ball in-behind the defence to Robinho (who had made an unpicked inside run) whose rebounded shot was finished by Pato.
After this goal, Inter tried to gain control of the game but the disadvantages of their system made them suffer. Eto’o covered by Abate and Gattuso, Seedorf and Zambrotta watching Maicon and Pandev while Pazzini was monitored by the pair of Nesta and Thiago Silva. Sneijder was well-marked by Van Bommel who won the personal battle against his fellow Dutchman. Kevin Prince Boateng also dropped deep to mark any of the runners from deep (Cambiasso or Thiago Motta who took turns to join attacking moves).
As Inter tried to attack to no avail, the threat of suffering from a counter attack was ever-present. Seedorf enjoyed space on Milan’s left. Inter rarely attacked down this flank so he had little defensive duty and his movement could be channeled towards making himself available for the initial pass in a counter attack. He was always an initial outlet for the Milan defence on the break. Another more direct option was a long pass to either Pato who looked to occupy Maicon’s flank when Maicon moved forward or Robinho in an attempt to allow them utilize their skill and pace against the defensive duo of Chivu and Ranocchia who defended high up the pitch.
Inter ascendancy reaches supreme at close of 1st Half
Towards the end of the first half, some utilization of the Inter right flank created some half-chances for Inter as the pair of Maicon and Pandev were against the ageing pair of Zambrotta and Seedorf. But Inter failed to make the most of these half-chances and the 1st half ended with Milan ahead.
2ND HALF
The second half began and without any changes to team systems or personnel, Inter attacked the same way and Milan responded the same way. 9 minutes into the second half, Milan attempted a direct counter attack with a Boateng cross-field pass locating Pato behind the defence but Pato tripped as he bored down on goal. Referee Rizzoli decided Chivu had tripped him and awarded Chivu a red card. Leonardo took off Pandev for Cordoba and switched to a 4-2-1-2 with Pazzini to the left of Eto’o in attack and Cordoba slotting in at centre-back.
POST RED-CARD GAME
After the red card, the game seemed out of reach for Inter. They suffered the same problems at the back with only two tacklers in midfield against three attacking players. Up front, Inter had too few bodies to make any impact and Milan marked intelligently. Milan took advantage and dominated the game from then on. All Milan midfielders enjoyed more time and space on the ball. Abate got forward more as Pazzini now the left striker for Inter was no longer his direct opponent. As Milan passed the ball around, Seedorf slipped in Abate in an advanced position after Zanetti had been drawn higher up to help out in the centre. Abate in time and space crossed the ball for Pato, unmarked, to head in his second goal. Milan went 2 goals up in the 61st minute.
Leonardo brought in Milito (who has more experience working with Eto’o but was lacking match fitness) for Pazzini and Stankovic for Cambiasso. This changes failed to solve any of the problems his side was experiencing. Robinho’s movement all night was causing all kinds of trouble for Inter with runs behind the defensive pair but he lacked the finishing to match his movement. Cassano came on for Pato and Emanuelson for Robinho. Milan continued to enjoy the midfield superiority dominating possession. A Seedorf chip over the Inter defence put Cassano through but he was brought down in the box by Zanetti. Cassano converted the penalty to send Milan 3 up in the 90th minute. The game had already been won when Chivu got sent off.
OVERVIEW
– Leonardo got this one wrong. He settled for continuity with his system and caused lots of problems for his players as they played into the hands of Milan defensive set-up and were not set up to cope with the Milan attack
– The psychological positives for Milan can not be downplayed. Milan are now 5 points clear at the top and with a number of benefactors of the famed “Milan youth policy” in their final season at Milan, this victory is a large boost for push for the Scudetto, last won in the 2003/2004 season
– Cassano celebrated his goal by taking off his shirt and made a foolish tackle on Cordoba to get himself a second yellow card meaning he was sent off after being on the pitch for about 10 minutes. For a man who claims never to have played at more than 50% his whole career, “Enfant Terrible” never struggles living up to his reputation.
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Perhaps it is because Leonardo is so nice, but the players don’t seem to try as hard for him as they did under Mourinho. Where were Sneijder, Eto’o and, most importantly, Motta and Cambiasso when Milan were pushing forward?