The Italian League club, AC Milan, have to lose their flagship defender, Simon Kjaer, who was injured in the match against Celtic, then what solution will Stefano Pioli take?
INDOSPORT.COM – AC Milan’s victory over Celtic on the fifth matchday of Group H of the Europa League on Sunday (04/12/20) early morning WIB must be paid handsomely. I Rossoneri lost their flagship defender, Simon Kjaer, who had to be injured in that match.
Simon Kjaer was pulled off by Stefano Pioli in the 11th minute after experiencing a leg muscle problem. Kjaer was immediately replaced by Alessio Romagnoli, who in that match Pioli didn’t actually plan to play.
Until now there has been no official release from AC Milan regarding the results of Simon Kjaer’s examination. What is clear, Milan is in the midst of anxiety, because Kjaer was so important in Milan’s success in qualifying for the last 32 of the Europa League and becoming the top of the Italian Serie A standings.
Currently, Milan’s back line options are running low with Kjaer’s injury. AC Milan itself this season plays three competitions at once, namely the Italian Serie A, the Europa League and the Italian Cup.
Unfortunately, last summer, they canceled recruiting new defenders. Then, what about the emergency solution that Milan can do after Simon Kjaer’s injury is left?
1. Look forward to the existing squad
The first option, of course, is to hope for the existing squad. Although not ideal, this was Pioli’s first solution.
Milan currently has two defenders who are ready to appear, namely Alessio Romagnoli and Matteo Gabbia. Actually Milan still have two other coating defenders, namely Leo Duarte and Mateo Musacchio.
However, as is known, Musacchio has not fully recovered from his injury until now. Meanwhile, Leo Duarte performed below expectations.
On the other hand, Alessio Romagnoli himself admitted to Pioli it was a struggle if he had to play three times a week. Then the choice is to rotate Leo Duarte to replace either Gabbia or Romagnoli until Kjaer’s injury recovers or wait for the January transfer window.
2. Shopping in January
This solution should be the best among the others. If Simon Kjaer’s injury takes a long time, then Milan must buy a new defender in January.
Even so, in order to get there, Milan will have to survive the whole month of December with the existing squad. After all, without Kjaer’s injury, Milan had indeed planned to bring in a new defender to add ammunition to the Italian League and European competitions.
A number of names that are rumored to be joining forces include Ozan Kabak, Nikola Milenkovic and Kristoffer Ajer. If one of them arrives, it is likely that Milan will kick Leo Duarte in January.
3. Change Formation
The emergency solution that AC Milan can do if its center-backs are not fit is to change formation. Changing the formation might be the lowest choice Pioli would choose.
However, if there are urgent conditions such as Simon Kjaer who is injured and Alessio Romagnoli’s condition is not fit, Stefano Pioli is forced to rack his brains.
So far Pioli’s Milan have never played with a back three. Milan itself is traditionally known as a team that embraces the formation of four defenders in the Italian and European leagues.
If Stefano Pioli takes an emergency step by changing the formation of three defenders, then 3-4-2-1 or 3-5-2 tactics can be used. With this tactic, AC Milan is very likely to play Sandro Tonali, Ismael Bennacer, and Franck Kessie simultaneously.
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