The tactical turning point that can give a decisive turn to the season and perhaps also to the career of a player who, in the general silence, could be all that Milan needs – and would have in the past – to be competitive to the hilt in every competition. The sensational performance against Paris Saint-Germain, with numbers that allowed him to stand out from any other player on the pitch on Tuesday evening at San Siro – made it clear how much the presence of Loftus-Cheek is fundamental in Stefano Pioli’s game system today. Enough to bring the Rossoneri coach back on a path that has given a lot of satisfaction in the past: the use of a 4-2-3-1 with a midfielder in a more advanced position compared to the others, capable at the same time of acting as a spoiler for the opposing defenses and as a balancer to favor the work of his teammates. Lecce, the next obstacle in Milan’s path, is obviously not a team with the offensive danger and technical caliber of PSG, but the impression is that the tactical key that won the Champions League has deserved another opportunity.
A LITTLE KESSIE, A LITTLE MILINKOVIC – Net of those physical problems that greatly influenced his continuity of performance in the London period – and to establish himself as a permanent starter at Chelsea – Loftus-Cheek had already clarified at his presentation press conference the position in which he hoped to express himself to make the most of his potential (which is why Milan’s court was decisive in hindsight): midfielder with purely offensive tasks and with the necessary license to exploit his athleticism and simplicity of running to unleash himself in rival midfields. Pegs it took longer than expected to identify the right balance and automation in the increasingly delicate department, but after a long wait he finally seems to have a footballer in his hands like Kessie had been in the past – decisive man in the 2022 championship race – and as in Serie A, in some ways, he knew how to be in his 8 seasons at Lazio Milinkovic-Savic. More technical, more goalscorer and more decisive in the last 16 meters of both Loftus-Cheek and the Ivorian in his career, but with not too dissimilar statistics in other equally important aspects.
CAN CAMARDA PLAY IN THE FIRST TEAM?
DRIVING – The Serbian and Kessie are players who have distinguished themselves in that position for their ability to move several meters of the pitch back to their respective teams: the most prudent interpretation of the role of Loftus-Cheek – son of the 4-3-3 used until the magical night against Mbappé and his teammates – prevented him from approaching the averages of 749.1 yards completed on average by his passes (of which 207.5 in the opponent’s half of the field) former Lazio player every 90′ and 752.7 (of which 191.7 in the rival portion of the pitch) every 90′ of the player who moved to Arabia after the disappointing spell at Barcelona. It is therefore very interesting the comparison between these three players regarding the possessions and progressive passes made and receivedthose who allow their teams to increase their danger index: 4.60 progressive possessions every 90′, 4.20 progressive passes completed every 90′ and 7.40 received every 90′ for Loftus-Cheek (always considering the only 8 games played in Serie A and the very recent tactical transformation), against the 1.97 progressive possessions every 90′, 6.26 progressive passes completed every 90′ and 5.11 received every 90′ by Milinkovic-Savic and against the 1.96 progressive possessions every 90′, 5.34 passes completed every 90′ and 3.50 received every 90′ of Kessie.
UNEXPLORED POTENTIAL – Milan’s new midfielder It also emerges in another strategic fundamental to create the much-invoked numerical superiority: every 90′ he attempts 2.40 one-on-ones and completes 1.20 of them, compared to Milinkovic’s 2.17 one-on-ones faced every 90′ and 1.28 successful ones every 90′ and 1.68 one-on-ones every 90′ , of which 1.19 were successful by Kessie. Where Pioli expects signs of improvement, fundamental for increasing the offensive potential of a team that still depends too much on Leao and Giroud in terms of goal production, is this data: taking advantage of his great ability in the air and excellent insertion times, the former Lazio player managed to kick 2.37 times per game, while the numbers of Loftus-Cheek (1.59 attempted shots) and Kessie (1.38 on average) are more like an insertion midfielder. A leap in quality necessary to completely complete the tactical mutation of a new Milan, which rediscovers itself and characteristics that were lost in the last transfer windows to return to being the one capable of surprising everyone. In Italy as in Europe.
2023-11-10 22:00:00
#comparison #Kessie #Milinkovic #LoftusCheek #Milans #turning #point
