Milan picked up an entertaining 4-0 win over Udinese in Serie A on Friday night, with four different goalscorers and a first clean sheet in nine matches, largely thanks to a change in formation from a 4-2-3-1 to a 3-4-3. Here are the players who benefited most from Sergio Conceicao’s tactical shift.
Goals from Rafael Leao, Strahinja Pavlovic, Theo Hernandez and Tijjani Reijnders gave the Rossoneri a four-goal advantage in Udine, in a game that also saw goalkeeper Mike Maignan knocked out and stretchered off after a collision of heads with teammate Alex Jimenez.
Undoubtedly, the 3-4-3 brought the best out of one of Milan’s star players in Theo Hernandez, who rounded off a decent display with an explosive finish after a fantastic team move down the Rossoneri left flank
The Frenchman often acts as a left wing-back for Milan anyway, but typically with just two centre-backs and his opposite full-back covering him in a back four.
The additional centre-back took some of the defensive duties away from Theo Hernandez, which got the best out of him on the ball, which is where he is most useful and most dangerous.
It was a similar story for Leao down the same flank. The Portugal international said himself during his post-match interview that having an extra defender made him ‘freer’ to explore attacking opportunities.
It was a vintage display from Milan’s two left flankers, who combined brilliantly as they have done so many times before, and were both rewarded with their names on the scoresheet: Theo’s first in three months and Leao’s first since February.
Curiously, all seven of Leao’s Serie A goals this season have come away from San Siro.
There was also an impressive performance from Milan centre-back Strahinja Pavlovic, who was also rewarded with a goal at the Bluenergy Stadium.
The Serbian was strong and aggressive in the tackle, scored at a brilliant time on the stroke of half-time to make the scores 2-0, and was also rated as Milan’s best centre-back by the majority of outlets in Italy.
With an extra centre-back on the pitch, Pavlovic was often allowed to step out of the back line carrying the ball knowing that there would be at least two more defenders behind him to cover, and was also involved in the brilliant team move that led to Theo’s goal and Milan’s third.
