The opponent of sunday: the AC Milan

The first concept that we must take into account that at 5.15 pm in Milan they will make 33 degrees celsius. This means that high pressing is suggested for the first twenty minutes only. They struggle with pressing and, for us, it could be an opportunity to take the lead. In general, both we and they will suffer from the heat, so the pace will be low and those with greater technical quality will bring the game home (for me, us).

It will be strange to play in the center of that huge, beautiful spaceship completely empty like will be San Siro. We will have to show personality. We will have to demonstrate more personality than AC Milan.

The game of our offensive midfielders behind Dzeko(Perez, Pellegrini and Mkhi who seem to me in better shape, but also Under, Pastore and Kluivert) will be fundamental. We will have to be more consistent in the game, look for one on one, win duels and do assists well. We aim above all at Kjaer (sometimes too Oxford) or Gabbia (that makes many faults).

AC Milan play with a 4411 which then becomes 4141 in the offensive and pressing phase. They do well pressing with Calhanoglu (usually) marking the playmaker. We can both play ball on the ground, which is risky, but gives more chances to create offensive opportunities, and to throw long on Dzeko (a choice that I would recommend). Then we try to understand the situation every time and to make the right choice.

They develop the game especially on the wings. On the right wing, they attack mainly with Castillejo who, being left, is led to go towards the middle. On the same wing he is very dangerous with the Calhanoglu cross (right, but he is good with both feet). On the left wing, Bonaventura often enters the center, attacking without ball on the near post, with Theo Hernandez making the whole wing and is then dangerous with both the cross and the shot. Both in the possession phases and in the pressing phases, they are very advanced with 5 (considering also Bennacer), 6 players (considering also Theo Hernandez), in this case we can think of bypassing them. During construction they often rely on Kessie, who is the playmaker and we have to mark him. We can steal the ball especially from the Ivorian, instead Bennacer, who has better technical quality, has problems in the defensive phase. Alternatively they build with full backs. Often against pressing they rely on the long ball where we have to stay focused with the defenders both in recovering the ball and in not making a foul on the striker.

In attack, they can play with Rebic or Leao. Both are very technical strikers and with the feeling of the goal. They are right-footed, but also good with the left. Maybe Rebic is stronger. Let's be careful about him or Leao!

Heat will be a factor. They have a lot of technical quality, but for me we have more. We field maximum concentration, maximum effort. It is a difficult game, but we can win. We have to win. Daje Roma!

Giordano Sepi