Build-up, Pioli similarities and a key flaw: Analysis of Bonera’s Milan Futuro tactics | OneFootball

There was a lot of anticipation regarding Milan Futuro’s debut season after the project finally got off the ground during the summer, however there have been some growing pains that were admittedly expected to an extent.

On Saturday, the newly promoted Pianese beat Daniele Bonera’s side, and they are now second to last in the table with just six points. They also went down to nine men in that game after two red cards, symbolising what has been a frustrating start to the inaugural season.

The Futuro have the worst attack in Group B of Serie C with just four goals scored in eight games, with first place Pescara awaiting them next. The optimism of the two early Coppa Italia wins has quickly evaporated, making way for the reality of how tough things will be.

The project has as its priority the developments of young players rather than the results obtained, so Bonera is not at risk for now, but the squad are struggling from a lack of confidence which must be addressed.

They have beaten only SPAL in the league, and it is this particular game that gives us the best example to look into in terms of how the coach wants his team to play. Rohit Rajeev has provided an analysis.

In possession

Emulating the senior team, the Futuro also use a 3+2 system while playing out from the back. Vittorio Magni, the right-back, would tuck in as the third defender while Andrea Bozzolan, the left-back, was given freedom to roam up the wing.

Milan extensively use keeper Noah Raveyre to bait the press by slowing the passes down and then quickly trying to pass out of a press or going long to the forwards.

Milan’s attacking structure resembled a 3-2-4-1 in this particular game, and it has remained relatively consistent.

To play out from the back, Milan aim to use quick one-touch passes and third-man runs.

The Futoro like to use one of the double pivot players or Mattia Liberali to switch play after sucking the opposition towards one side of the pitch.

Off the ball

One of the main differences between the senior team and Futuro is the use of different marking systems. Fonseca uses a zonal marking system while Bonera – like the previous head coach Stefano Pioli, who he worked under – uses a man-marking system.

Off the ball, Milan Futuro like to play a compact 4-4-2 block as against the 4-2-4 system the senior team play.

Whenever the ball goes wide, there is a tendency to squeeze laterally towards the ball side and reduce the size of the playing field.

The youngsters team very hard and try outnumber their opponents and make it a 4v3, so as to squeeze SPAL for every bit of space.

Second half changes

Now this is where it gets interesting. Bonera made some interesting changes, taking off Kevin Zeroli for Demirel Hodzic and Nicolo Turco for Samuele Longo.

Longo is a traditional centre-forward, meaning he does not involve himself in the play but rather runs the channels and acts as the tip to create space between opposition lines for the runners to run into.

Turco however is different. He is a ball-playing striker or even a false nine. He drops between the lines and allows the wingers to push inside and act as inside forwards while he pulls his marker out of midfield.

Hodzic meanwhile is more of a deep-lying midfielder while Zeroli is a roaming creative player like Tijjani Reijnders. Hodzic dropped into the defence allowing more positional rotations for the Milan players than earlier.

Set piece analysis

From throw-ins, Milan use a man-to-man marking system often overloading the sides with a spare man to act as a safety guard against any runners.

We can also learn about Bonera’s set-up from attacking and defending corners, as shown in the clips below.

What to conclude

Bonera is trying to instil clear playing principles into his team, something that was one of the missions from day one of the project, tying in with the overarching philosophy of developing players technically ready for first team football.

However, the results and the performances are highlighting a crucial flaw: the squad is physical enough for Serie C at present. The lack of size and physicality is a major contributor to the fact there has been such a struggle for open play goals and if things are bleak by January the window may need to provide help.

There has to be an element of patience though, given that Juve Next Gen are also struggling a lot this season, and these games will give the players the necessary experience and exposure to the physical level of adults at competitive levels.