AC Milan-Roma 3-1 and Juve.

In a situation where many hospitals are alarmed because if the COVID situation continues in this way, they will have to decide who to treat and who not, it seems ridiculous to get angry about football which in comparison to these issues is a cazzarone pastime. I think, however, that this pandemic must teach us something. We will have to learn to be more serious in our work, with our ethics. I mean all of us, including referees, management and the Federation.

If we do not learn this, our football will not grow (it is not a problem in name because Milan have been in Europe for 3 years and their results are worse than those of Roma), but our country will not grow either. The reforms that our government is about to carry out are important, but the cultural change of the country is even more important. We must take it into our heads to act ethically, to always behave in accordance with the law. If we don't learn it now with COVID, we will never learn it and we will doom Italy to the rapid decline in which it is already well under way. If we don't learn the lesson now, when will we learn it? If not now, when?

Chiffi's refereeing (with Aureliano at the VAR) was scandalous and directed in one direction only.

2 penalties against Roma and 2 expulsions for Roma immediately catch the eye, but going more specifically, it is also necessary to highlight the number of fouls whistled (Milan 6, Roma 20 as you can see here). Zaniolo has never been preserved as our talent should. Roma played badly. We could have played better. But with these assumptions it is useless to talk so much about tactics. Now let's think about Juve.

Allegri puts 433 on the field which then becomes 451 in the defensive phase. They alternate moments of pressing with long periods of defense and then start on the counterattack.

They build with both midfielders, Betancur and Locatelli (very dangerous in pressing), even if in general, if pressed, they go into difficulty. Usually, if they are all pressed, they look for the edge of the striker. If the midfielders are marked they can build with Bonucci, a great champion, who sometimes takes responsibility for the winning play of the game with the long ball for the strikers. In fact, we cannot rule out a priori the hypothesis of a game of theirs especially attentive in defense and then restart on the counterattack, instead of seeking the arrogant domination of the field.

The defence. Bonucci is very strong in the construction and also in the defensive phase. Together with Chiellini they are practically unbeatable (as our coach says they could teach defensive tactics at Harvard): a great challenge for our forwards. Chiellini is very good at making a foul and making it seem like a foul right away, even if he has been less successful lately. In place of Chielini, Allegri can field De Ligt, who has improved a lot in the defensive phase. They are very low and mark man by man with the central backs on the two forwards, so the insertions of our midfielders could be very poisonous.

When we do the give and go, they will block on who starts the triangle. It is irregular.

The right side. They attack mainly on their right, our left, with Cuadrado (or Chiesa) or with Dybala (left) who overlaps Cuadrado and can go from right to center to try the shot with the left. The best player in the offensive phase is Chiesa. Allegri deploys him on the right wing or right forward, he is good at dribbling and shooting with both feet, especially when he goes towards the center from the right. On this occasion he is also good with his left-footed shot. Bernardeschi who goes towards the center or to look for a left-footed shot or for the pocket for Morata. The Spaniard often plays on the offside line, if we are good, we will systematically put him offside.

The left side. They don't have a real left wing. Bernardeschi, Chiesa, Cuadrado, Dybala and Kulusevski prefer to play on the right. Rabiot and Betancur are more central midfielders than wings. With Napoli he often played as a left winger, Chiesa, below his qualities. Then they also tried Bernardeschi and Betancur, who played better.

On free kicks, they defend to man, very low in order not to give depth to the cross. In this way, the defenders don't have to run towards the goal, but have the ball coming in front of them. We must remain calm and think of ad hoc schemes (we have already encountered this situation with Empoli). On corners. on the right Chiesa usually crosses on the far post to move away from the goal. From their left, Dybala beats them, on the near post.

Szczesny is a great goalkeeper but not excellent with his feet under construction (also if he's improved). For this reason Allegri does not resort much to building with the goalkeeper. Against the press he usually throw i the half-back, in particular the right back, that could be Cuadrado. He's without criteria in the exits, sometimes he stays too much between the posts, sometimes he goes too far from the goal.

McKennie attacks very much, particularly without ball.

They suffer the high press, especially with the midfielders.

It is not Juve butcher of the past few years. Never like now we can win, always if the referee allows it. On the subject of ethics (also of the referees) it is time to change, on the tactics with Juve, it is time to win. If not now, when? Daje Roma!

Giordano Sepi