If you are expecting an article which brags about Milan’s impermeable defense and their heroic performance at the Nou Camp then you are reading the wrong article. Milan’s defense on Tuesday night was nothing short of extraordinary but there were some areas of concern that emerged over the weekend’s game against Lazio as well as the mid-week trip to Barcelona.
I will not dwell too deeply on the intricate issues in the defense but I will address a matter of immense importance having studied both the Lazio and Barcelona games.
Max Allegri and Mauro Tassoti’s partnership in building what is arguably Europe’s best defense is criminally ignored. Last season, Milan set the joint record of the least goals conceded over the course of a season (24 goals). Of this meagre number, four goals came against Udinese in one game which proved to be an absolute cracker of a match.
So, 37 games and 20 goals conceded; a stellar defense indeed. But since then, things have changed, improved and deteriorated. Sandro Nesta sent Milanisti all over the world praying for Phillipe Mexes’s speedy recovery on Friday night but the same man was a giant at the Nou Camp.
Thiago Silva looks a shadow of the defender he was last year. The Brazilian’s form has dived since his trip to the Copa America. Giancluca Zambrotta has aged and Taye Taiwo’s arrival implies the insertion of a new left back to an established back line. Ignazio Abate’s improvement is mind boggling to say the least but Messi and Co exposed the right back’s rawness a few times mid-week.
Pedro Rodriguez’s equaliser was largely down to Lionel Messi’s perseverance getting the better of Abate combined with Zambrotta ball watching on the occasion. Taiwo’s defensive abilities too are well documented. The two goals against Lazio also came from the defense being rather unorganised and playing a slightly pressing style.
Few will feel reassured after glancing at the bench. Mario Yepes and Daniele Bonera, though useful options, will not cut it into UEFA’s team of the season. One resorts to reckless tackles as a means to overcome his obvious lack of pace while the other tries to impersonate a mannequin. It’s clear then, there is trouble brewing in front of Christian Abbiati. What’s the solution, how does Allegri tackle this concern?
In the short run, Milan must play a deeper line of defense. Note, I’m not suggesting a deep line of defense, only saying they must play a deeper line. With Nesta losing pace and Silva still searching for his glorious form of last season, Milan cannot afford to press high up the pitch.
An argument can be made about Milan’s breakneck speed down the wings. But speed does not necessarily compensate for skill. Many a time, I have noticed Abate and Luca Antonini getting caught out of position on the counter and neither made a visible effort to track back. Taiwo’s positioning sense is not world class either.
On Tuesday night, Milan played a deeper line of defense with the midfield playing slightly deep too, compressing the space in between, pushing the attackers and midfielders further away from goal resulting in Xavi’s long range efforts. Followers of football are aware that Xavi resorts to pulling the trigger from distance when he lacks options ahead of him. In other words, it’s a result of sheer frustration. And frustrating the world’s best midfielder is what you would expect from a world class defense.
The Serie A is not too different either. Over the last few seasons, the league has experienced an injection of pace and guile. Attacks have become quicker and more teams are resorting to counter-attacking football, especially against the bigger sides. Milan’s midfield will need to work overtime to support the men at the back and Allegri’s system facilitates such co-ordination.
Having said that, playing a high-line against teams in the Serie A can be a suicidal tactic especially when your tools to defend lack pace and positional sense. Hence, a deeper line cancels out these weaknesses and helps the back four to be more conventional yet effective.
Follow Rajath on Twitter: @rajathkumar and check out his Milan Blog as well.
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