Mazzara claims 4-3-3 is 'the key' to Milan 'making the most of their technical potential'

"Pietro Mazzara has suggested that Massimiliano Allegri could and should turn to the 4-3-3 more in order to unlock difficult games. Milan made things more difficult than they perhaps should have been on Friday night in Pisa, especially after taking a first-half lead through Ruben Loftus-Cheek. Niclas Füllkrug's penalty miss seemed to inspire belief in the home side, who drew level through Loyola."

"They will have to do so by overcoming Como first, but they will have to do so by trying to evolve their attitude and approach to matches. Even though Milan won, Pisa left me - personally - with a bitter taste in my mouth about what the Rossoneri could have done to take the game earlier. And I'm not talking about Füllkrug's penalty. But rather a dull first half, where Loftus-Cheek's goal came on the first move, executed with rapid, incisive, and precise timing."

A tactical evolution is needed, recommending more frequent use of the 4-3-3 to unlock stubborn opponents. Milan struggled in Pisa despite an early Loftus-Cheek goal, with a missed Füllkrug penalty boosting the home side and Loyola restoring parity. The late introduction of Leao and Pulisic alongside Füllkrug resembled a three-man attack commonly used only in-game when a goal is required. Loftus-Cheek is not viewed as a natural centre-forward and often operates away from the goal. Switching to 4-3-3 is presented as a way to open Milan's technical play and better calibrate the attack during a crucial season phase.

Read at SempreMilan