With Sergio Conceicao, Fikayo Tomori’s future also changes: why did the coach prefer him to Gabbia in the Super Cup? The reason is, also, tactical
Somewhat surprisingly, Sergio Conceicao deployed Fikayo Tomori from the first minute against Juventus and Inter in the Italian Super Cup. Not well against the Bianconeri, slightly better in the derby but Mehdi Taremi’s goal was a depth miscalculation that neither he nor Malick Thiaw can afford at this level. However, the Englishman is justified: he had not played for some time and had lost motivation with Paulo Fonseca.
Perché Conceicao punta su Tomori (LaPresse) – MilanLive.it
Conceicao’s choice could change the market strategies: in fact, Milan was considering the transfer of the former Chelsea man, with Juventus in the front row ready for the assault. Loan with right of redemption at 20-25 million: this was the Bianconeri’s idea, but now it is frozen because with the new coach everything is at stake. Soon there will be a discussion between the coach and the management to take stock of the market situation: unlike what happened with Fonseca, this time Ibrahimovic, Furlani and Moncada will collaborate with the coach (as happens in any normal club). But why did Conceicao decide to go for Tomori and not Gabbia? There is obviously a (also) tactical explanation.
Perché Conceicao ha scelto Tomori in Supercoppa
Among the many things that didn’t work in Fonseca’s Milan, there was definitely the early pressure, which was almost always uncoordinated, and this led the team to fray and create huge holes between the wards. We saw very often in recent months the Rossoneri suffer frontal attacks from opposing midfielders and forwards, who were too free to attack Mike Maignan’s goal. This for Conceicao is not acceptable.
Perché Conceicao punta su Tomori (ANSA) – MilanLive.it
One of his Porto’s strengths has always been solidity and compactness: a team that is always short, with each department ready to intervene if the opponent’s lines of pressure are overrun. And that is what he wants to bring to Milan as well, and this explains the choice of Tomori (and, consequently, also the possible enhancement of Pavlovic further forward): if the defensive line has to shorten in the pressing phase, it is inevitable that a lot of space will be created behind. Space that the Englishman, endowed with great speed and skilled in one-on-one duels – something that has literally exalted him in Pioli’s man-to-man system – can make up if needed. Here, in Taremi’s case he failed to do so, but that is a disaster that originated even earlier. This therefore explains the use of Tomori and the possible change of strategy in the market, unless irrenounceable offers of 30 million and up come in; in that case, however, Milan would still have to buy a replacement with similar characteristics. Is it worth it?
The article From starter to (again) starter: why Sergio Conceicao bets on Tomori was written and published in its original version on Milanlive.it.
