Warren Bondo’s debut with AC Milan was certainly a positive one given the circumstances, and Sergio Conceicao seems to have developed an idea from it.
As MilanNews write, Bondo’s return – who arrived on a permanent basis for €10m in the winter but was nursing an injury – opens up a series of new tactical scenarios for the coach Conceicao and his staff in this final part of the season.
Ideal pivot
Bondo arrived at Milan with the label of deputy to Youssouf Fofana but he could also play alongside him in the pursuit of balance. In Lecce this did not happen: Bondo started from the beginning and was replaced after just over an hour by Joao Felix, Fofana came on about ten minutes later.
Yet in these last months of the season we will be able to see them together, to give a bit more defensive protection especially when the opponents are going forward with counter-attacks and transitions.,
Putting the two French players in the middle of the field at the same time could give the right physicality to the middle which the protects the rearguard, something Tijjani Reijnders can’t guarantee as he has a different skill set.
Reijnders rejoices
Speaking of Reijnders, the Bondo-Fofana pairing could be the second assist that this tactical solution could offer to Conceicao, to relieve a little of the defensive duties that the Dutchman has.
He can then focus on doing what he does best: scoring and creating danger. It could impact Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic as well, too often forced to drop back next to Fofana this season.
In other words, it makes sense for all involved and feels like a ’round pegs in round holes’ solution, at least until Milan potentially sign a pure defensive midfielder. It remains to be seen what Conceicao intends to do, starting from Como.
