As La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) write this morning, Conceicao has been more generally preparing for the final from April 11 onwards, when his Milan won 4-0 against Udinese in a game in which the three-man defence was seen for the first time.
It was at the Bluenergy Stadium that the Portuguese found the right system for his side who, not surprisingly, have won five if their last six games across all competitions and with just three goals conceded.
Granted, for over an hour against Bologna the Rossoneri suffered with the man-to-man pressing of Vincenzo Italiano’s team and the comeback came with the switch to 4-2-3-1, but it is unlikely that Sergio will change the system.
The squad was certainly not built to play with three at the back, but as he admitted after Friday’s game ‘the players believe in what we are doing’. At most, Conceiçao will make some small tactical adjustments, especially as a result of the return to the starting lineup of Rafael Leao.
Leao’s return to the starting lineup will be important because the Portuguese will guarantee the ability to attack the space in behind and will force the rossoblù to be more careful on their right flank, where Joao Felix rarely targeted De Silvestri on Friday.
Rafa with his one-on-ones will force the Bologna midfielder to double up on that side (most likely Lewis Ferguson) and that will facilitate Tijjani Reijnders’ runs or Theo Hernandez’s overlaps, who as usual will have Strahinja Pavlovic covering his back.
With Youssouf Fofana returning (he also missed the win in the league), there will be more bite in the midfield than with Ruben Loftus-Cheek. The former Monaco player – who has provided eight assists so far – can stop Odgaard and counter-attacks.
Since Tomori has recovered from the knock he suffered on Friday he will regain his place, with Thiaw on the bench. Conceicao will ask his three defenders to get the ball out quickly, to avoid pressure, but above all to thwart the inverted wingers that Bologna have from cutting inside.
Compared to the starting lineup on April 11 in Udine, Conceiçao has made few changes in the last month. In Genoa and against Bologna on Friday he gave Loftus-Cheek a starting spot to get some of the rust off him, but he did not change the three-man defence of Tomori, Gabbia and Pavlovic.
Christian Pulisic will start, then up front it is a battle between Luka Jovic and Santi Gimenez. The Mexican is doing better physically and is confident after the three goals (and the assist) in the last three matches.
The Serbian, however, is better at hold-up play and protecting the ball. If Milan come under pressure from the press again, Jovic could be a very useful out ball, at least at the beginning. During the match Conceiçao will then come up with solutions, as he always seems to.
The former Porto boss hopes to get the moves right and lift the second trophy of the season. In fact, a second trophy since December 30th when he sat on the Rossoneri bench, something last done by Carlo Ancelotti in 2007-08.
