These words do not come from a random person or from a supporter sitting at a café before entering the stadium. "I think Milan are, along with Real Madrid, the strongest team in Europe on the counterattack." Signed Marcus Thuram after the derby that the Rossoneri won 1–0.
Before studying the counterattack, you need to focus on another concept that gives more weight to the idea you apply on the pitch. Transition play reflects Massimiliano Allegri’s thinking in full, since he wants a clear identity for his team.
Is Milan among the strongest in Europe on the counterattack?
There were long talks in the summer with Leao, Pavlovic, Saelemaekers, Rabiot and Fofana. The plan at Milanello was clear and structured. Max spoke with these players one by one, except for the former Marseille man who arrived near the final minutes of the transfer window.
If he had arrived earlier, you would have seen a classroom scene where the teacher assigns a strong tutor in the subject to help the other students improve.
Rafael Leao always at the center:
Leao is the chosen one because of his physical traits and acceleration with the ball in the idea of breaking forward that the coach wants. Against Inter he had the chance to run in open field, a situation that suits the number 10 and lets him show his strengths.
A game plan that works with Modric and Rabiot?
The strength of the counterattacks comes from collective work. The whole team is ready to win the ball and play forward at once toward the forwards. Here the traits of individuals emerge. Modric and Rabiot do tough work, they intercept attacks and read opponents before the action even develops. Zero goals conceded from outside the box reflect this, as relayed via Milan Press.
Saelemaekers and Pavlovic as fixed points for Allegri’s Milan:
Saelemaekers brings constant running on the flank or inside. Loftus-Cheek, Fofana and Rabiot have the strength and technique to attack the box in open field. For opponents, setting preventive marking against this Milan feels like solving a Rubik’s cube. Every lost ball can trigger four players running together.
You also need to add Pavlovic’s leap to flip the action and give more options up front. This is another choice Allegri pushed with intent.
Milan must use their counter-attacking abilities in the match vs Lazio, but facing Sarri's team will not be easy...
In fact, speaking of the Lazio fixture, Massimiliano Allegri also repeated in yesterday’s press conference what the season target is for his Milan, finishing in the top four in Serie A to regain a place in the Champions League.
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Milan, reaching the top four will be harder than in the past years
The coach, Allegri, pointed out another detail, this season looks like one of the toughest for anyone aiming for Champions League qualification.
The league table after the first 13 rounds shows the top seven teams separated by seven points, with Lazio in eighth only two points behind seventh, so the points needed for fourth place at the end will be high.
Allegri says the team needs at least 51 more points on top of the 25 already earned, a minimum total of 76. This is a high figure for Champions League access if you look at recent years. In the last five seasons only 2020-21 reached a similar level with 78, while the other four stayed around 70.
Strong against the big sides, the change must come against the smaller ones:
As said in recent weeks, Milan must keep a strong pace in direct clashes with the top sides and change their approach against the smaller teams.
Goal difference will also be decisive, the attack must become more clinical than what we have seen so far because even one extra goal can change everything.
High Champions League threshold, but the Scudetto:
One detail from Allegri may have gone unnoticed, a high Champions League threshold is a problem for those fighting to reach it, but it would also mean a lower threshold for the Scudetto compared to recent years.
The word Scudetto is not used much at Milan after last season, but reaching March among the top teams as the coach wants could open some interesting scenarios.
