The script was already written.
AC Milan’s head coach, Paulo Fonseca, was below strain, his struggling crew have been up in opposition to Inter Milan, and a win separated Simone Inzaghi’s facet from making historical past.
After six consecutive victories in opposition to their metropolis rivals, Inter wanted one other one to ink their names into the file books.
Not solely would Inzaghi have joined Helenio Herrera and Arpad Weisz because the Inter managers with probably the most wins within the derby (eight), however extra importantly, a triumph in opposition to Milan would imply an unprecedented seven consecutive victories in a row in opposition to their rivals.
However soccer has a behavior of not following the script.
In opposition to expectations, Milan managed a 2-1 victory with a late header from Matteo Gabbia offering them with their first derby win in two years.
In a shock transfer, Fonseca began with Tammy Abraham and Alvaro Morata up entrance for Milan, however the system was extra of the identical with the Spain centre-forward appearing as a No 10 in entrance of Youssouf Fofana and Tijjani Reijnders. In the meantime, Christian Pulisic maintained a narrower place down the proper facet.
In possession, Pulisic wished to use the house behind Inter’s midfield alongside the dropping Morata.
On this instance, the USMNT winger is positioned narrowly with Alessandro Bastoni, Inter’s left centre-back, marking him excessive up the pitch.
Nevertheless, when Milan construct up by way of their left facet, Bastoni drops again to his place within the defensive position…
… which frees Pulisic for a few seconds. As Fikayo Tomori finds Reijnders’ ahead sprint in midfield, Pulisic roams inside behind the Inter midfield…
… and continues his run when the Netherlands midfielder carries the ball ahead, though Reijnders doesn’t play the by way of ball.
With out the ball, Milan defended in a 4-2-4 with Pulisic and Rafael Leao flanking Morata and Abraham…
… however the attention-grabbing side of this strategy was that Pulisic maintained his slim function out of possession too, regardless of the specter of Inter’s vast centre-backs.
When Bastoni progressed down the left wing to help Inter’s left wing-back, Federico Dimarco, Fofana moved throughout to cowl for the American winger.
On this instance, Pulisic alerts to Emerson Royal and Fofana to deal with Bastoni…
… in order that the Milan winger maintains his slim place.
Contemplating Inter’s capacity in vast areas and the hazard of their advancing centre-backs, Milan’s strategy was dangerous. Nevertheless, it meant that when Fonseca’s facet regained possession and wished to strike on the transition, Pulisic was able to trigger harm.
Right here, Milan win the ball again in their very own half and begin their attacking transition by discovering the dropping Morata. In the meantime, Pulisic’s preliminary slim place means that he’s near the motion when his facet is countering.
In an try to defend the transition, Bastoni strikes up in the direction of Morata, however the striker performs the ball vast to Leao whereas Pulisic is working ahead.
Bastoni then strikes throughout to assist Kristjan Asllani, which creates a spot in Inter’s defence. Pulisic assaults that house from his central place, however Leao shoots straight at Yann Sommer as a substitute of discovering the American’s run.
In one other instance, Pulisic’s out-of-possession function means that he’s in a central place and nearer to the ball than Bastoni when Milan begin a counter-attack…
… which makes him a risk when Fonseca’s crew progresses it up the pitch to Abraham. Pulisic’s positioning offers him a bonus over Bastoni…
… and his tempo creates a three-versus-two scenario on the counter, the place Benjamin Pavard isn’t certain whether or not to decide to the American or swap his consideration to Leao on the opposite facet.
Pavard holds his place, and Abraham places Leao in entrance of aim regardless of Pulisic’s name for the ball to be performed into his path.
Leao’s shot is saved by Sommer, however Pulisic’s central place provides another possibility.
Earlier within the recreation, Pulisic’s slim positioning led to Milan’s first aim — albeit from an Inter throw-in on the alternative flank, when he’s anticipated to be this far infield.
Right here, Gabbia heads the ball in the direction of Morata with Pulisic positioned behind Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
Morata then tries to flick the ball however it falls to the Inter midfielder, who has Pulisic on his blind facet.
The American winger pounces and wins the ball again…
… earlier than dribbling previous the unorganised Inter defence and scoring to offer Milan the lead.
Pulisic’s function with out the ball meant that Milan have been susceptible in opposition to Inter’s advancing centre-backs and switches of play in the direction of the wing-backs, which was clearly seen within the build-up to Dimarco’s equaliser when Nicolo Barella performed the diagonal in the direction of the left wing-back.
Then again, it readied Pulisic for the attacking transition and offered Milan with a bonus as soon as they regained the ball. “He (Pulisic) is taking part in in a single place extra inside with larger participation within the recreation,” Fonseca informed CBS Sports activities after the sport. “He’s scored in the previous few video games and is in an important second.”
Finally, it proved to be a threat price taking by Fonseca. Milan’s head coach will now hope that this victory marks the beginning of an extended script with Milan quite than an abrupt finish.
(Header photograph: Picture Photograph Company/Getty Photos)
